Used Canton (because that's what I had) and Bulleit Rye (because I'm, well, me and will almost always go rye over bourbon). Very tasty cocktail, and perfect for, well, a night like tonight.

Enjoyable but a little sweet. It could use something spicy and might be more enjoyable with rye like the other commenter mentioned.

Eastern Exposure is a pleasant drink, but as commented on by two others, it has a sweetness to it, from the Ramazzotti I suspect (and from the orange bitters, to a lesser degree), that some may not like. I used Jim Beam Black (a more pronounced taste than Four Roses, yet easy to imbibe), and still the sweetness. As is, I rate this cocktail at 3.5.

Nevertheless, I'm going to make this drink twice more, each a different way. First, I'll make Eastern Exposure using Four Roses' small batch bourbon, and also using lemon bitters instead of orange bitters. Second, I'll make Eastern Exposure using a good rye (Bulleit or Wild Turkey, for example) with orange bitters. I love a good rye drink, and it just may be that Eastern Exposure is a better drink when made with rye. Comparing the drink when made with different bitters vs. made with rye will--hopefully-- give some insight as to how to best make Eastern Exposure. 

Wonderful nose, really highlighted the rum and lime elements, just a hint of sweet.  I always use a lighter touch with the orgeat.  Might sub out one of the rums for Arrack Batavia cause I happen to have it.  5 star.

Regarding Cocktails (p. 85) credits Sasha Petraske for this drink (with 3/4oz honey syrup). 

Curated this - added creator, updated the source cite (the previous was a bad link). Corrected honey syrup recipe, corrected amount of honey syrup. Thanks,  Zachary

Highballs with soft drinks, huh? Personally I'd consider this a craft cocktail only with fresh juice, seltzer, and maybe some lime+simple for sweet/sour complexity.

Now San Pelligrino Sanbitter or Chinotto is a different story. I wonder if there is a grapefruit equivalent of Aranciata?

Dan,

KC always assumes fresh juice - just utilize the garnish ;) I wanted a minimalist version of this drink. The notes include many variants, including the additions of lime, grapefruit juice + club soda, etc...

Fresh squeezed juice, club soda, and a fairly inexpensive anejo make a wonderfully light and refreshing cocktail. A few drops of campari for color and a bit more sweetness.

There is! San Pellegrino pompelmo.

We go both ways on this one, depending on what we have on hand

2 oz Blanco tequila
2 oz Pink Grapefruit Juice
½ oz Lime Juice
½ oz Agave Nectar
1½ oz Club soda

OR

2 oz Blanco tequila
3½ oz Pink Grapefruit Juice
½ oz Lime Juice

So many options! I made both of the suggestions by Norm (A: 2oz reposado; 2oz grapefruit; ½ oz lime; ½ oz agave; B: 1½oz soda AND 2oz blanco; 3½ oz grapefruit Juice; ½ oz lime). The second tastes better but the bubbles are important! I also made A with blanco and with Vida mezcal. I actually love A with mezcal!

Delicious and the salt solution really ties it all together. I usually make it with 2 oz rye, 3/4 oz cynar, 1/4 oz nocello, 2 drops salt solution as I find the original a bit large. 4/5.

I have messed around with this recipe and I have had it at the Marvel Bar.  I personally like it best with 2 drops of salt solution and I prefer Braulio over the Cynar in the same ratio. 

I like bitter drinks,. But this was like drinking a glass of campari and nothing else. No depth. No complexity. Just a lot of bitter. It could be that I chose the wrong nocino (Eda Rhyne Rustic Nocino). Or perhaps Old Overholt 86 was the wrong rye.

Has anyone tried this? I realize it's a Negroni variation, with the little-used Meletti in lieu of Campari. It does seem a bit sweet, but worth trying. I'm wondering if splitting the Punt e Mes with some dry vermouth would be needed, or maybe it's great as written.

I also wonder if rye or bourbon would work, since the chocolaty Meletti seems compatible with brown spirits. Or rum, of course.

Dan,

I would guess that EO is going for the Punt e Mes = Sweet vermouth + bitter thing which might give enough bitterness to make the Meletti act like Campari. I think Meletti is regional New York - we don't have it down here. I seem to remember it as honeyed.

I think it would be great as a Boulevardier riff.

Thanks,

Zach

I've tried this and I like it quite a bit, though I suspect you might find it too sweet as written. I'd say the sweetness is bit more than a Negroni made with Gran Classico and Cocchi vermouth di Torino, for example. The Meletti and Punt e Mes are delicious together. I tried this as a Boulevardier variation using Bulleit Rye, and it was good, but I prefer the more prominent amaro flavors in the gin version.

Delicious. I added a dash of wormwood bitters to offset the sweet Meletti a bit. Really good.

Rather jammy. Seasonally different than a Negroni.

I rather like this one (4/5, but would lean towards 4.5 if it were an option). It is sweeter than a Negroni, but that is likely by design rather than a flaw. The combo of Meletti and Punt e Mes provides sufficient bitters, and the sweetness doesn't regress to caramel or chocolate--more berry/grape/orange fruity instead. There is a slight rhubarb (?) tartness countering the fruit. The Plymouth seems to work well.

Scott,

I fixed the spelling of the Chartreuse, which might be the reason it wasn't coming up in the database search.

Thanks,

Zachary

This cocktail is shockingly well-balanced. A work of genius.

Clever clever clever. The Chartreuse fits in perfectly.

Made this with B&B instead of Benedictine (it’s all we had) and I think it mellowed it out a bit, not as sweet as others complained. Very herbaceous and sweet enough. It looked naked without some garnish so we added an orange peel twist, it complemented the herbaceousness!

I've seen comments about the sweetness level of the cocktail, and I can see how it can get a tad sweet for some tastes, but the key is to use an over proof rye like Rittenhouse 100 to help balance with a bit more alcohol.  Definitely dial back the benedictine and chartreuse to 1/4 or so if you are don't have an over proof rye on hand.

Swapped the Chartreuse for Suze and the dashes of Fernet with Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters. Strong and sweet drink, but not too sweet! Used Rittenhouse (100 proof) rye which I feel helped balance things.

This is very good. However, I didn’t like it with Rittenhouse (which others here recommended), even though Rittenhouse is a go-to rye for me. I found Knob Creek rye to work best. It lent a good amount of spice, and at once stood up to and melded nicely with the other boldly flavored spirits.