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Cocktails

Our Favorite Easy, Stirred Cocktails

April 07, 2023

Story: Punch Staff

photo: Lizzie Munro

Cocktails

Our Favorite Easy, Stirred Cocktails

April 07, 2023

Story: Punch Staff

photo: Lizzie Munro

Three-ingredient staples, low-proof classics and more.

The category of stirred drinks tends to evoke a familiar roster: the Manhattan (and its many contemporary riffs), along with the Martini and Boulevardier, to name just a few. But the stirred template knows no bounds. For your next stirred round, consider going beyond the basics with an easy rye cocktail capable of converting whiskey skeptics, a lesser-known low-proof staple or one of our favorite three-ingredient cocktails.

To get to know the breadth of the style, here are 15 easy recipes to stir up year-round.

Valentino Vodka Negroni Cocktail
Recipes

Valentino

A Negroni that swaps gin for vodka and departs from the equal-parts ratio.

Obituary martini cocktail
Recipes

Obituary

A drier take on the lesser-known New Orleans Martini.

Blackstrap Rum Recipe
Recipes

The Black Stallion Sets Sail

A neo-tiki Negroni, made with blackstrap rum and "Ferrari."

Greenpoint Manhattan Cocktail Recipe
Recipes

The Greenpoint

A spin on the Brooklyn, itself a twist on the Manhattan.

Recipes

Nova Scotia

A Scotch Old-Fashioned crossed with an Alaska.

Manhattan Recipe
Recipes

French Manhattan

A riff on the American classic calls for Cognac and orange liqueur.

Brainstorm Cocktail
Recipes

Al Sotack’s Brainstorm

A pre-Prohibition Irish whiskey cocktail with dry that drinks like a modified Old-Fashioned.

Old Hickory Cocktail Dauphines
Recipes

Neal Bodenheimer’s Old Hickory

An obscure vermouth-based classic, retooled for more flavor and less dilution.

Recipes

Chrysanthemum #2

An improved Chrysanthemum with less absinthe and more citrus.

Three Ingredient Sherry Cocktail Recipe
Recipes

Remember the Alimony

One of the few sherry-based modern classics.

Golden Phone Cocktail Recipe
Recipes

Golden Phone

A stirred riff on the 20th Century with tequila, yellow Chartreuse and crème de cacao.

Banana Boulevardier
Recipes

Anvil’s Banana Boulevardier

A fruit-forward spin that’s developed a life of its own.

Negroni Cocktail Recipe
Recipes

Nico

In place of Campari, Braulio adds herbal intrigue to the Negroni template.

Manhattan Cocktail Recipe
Recipes

Long Look Back

A Manhattan riff featuring a split-base of rye whiskey, Japanese whisky and Braulio.

La Vina Cocktail Recipe
Recipes

La Viña

A timeless equal-parts recipe from Death & Co.'s Alex Day.

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