La Môme
New York City bartender Natasha David's riff on the Martini builds on a base of rose-infused pisco.
- story: Leslie Pariseau
- photo: Daniel Krieger
Pisco Sour
This frothy spur off the sour family tree has roots in both America and Peru. The story goes that American-born Victor Morris moved to Peru to work on the railroads…
- story: Leslie Pariseau
- photo: Ed Anderson
American Trilogy
When Richard Boccato and Michael McIlroy worked together at Little Branch in New York City, they collaborated to create this dark riff on the Old Fashioned.
- story: Leslie Pariseau
- photo: Daniel Krieger
Manhattan
One of the enduring heavyweights in the cocktail world, the Manhattan is something of a twist on the Old Fashioned, most likely spurred by the late-19th century rise of sweet…
- story: Leslie Pariseau
- photo: Ed Anderson
Champagne Cocktail
Swap whiskey for Champagne in the Old Fashioned template, and you’ll get this pedigreed cocktail, which was first mentioned in Jerry Thomas’s 1862 How to Mix Drinks.
- story: Leslie Pariseau
- photo: Daniel Krieger
Betty Carter
A sherry and amaro-infused whiskey sour in ode to legendary jazz singer Betty Carter.
- story: Leslie Pariseau
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Mai Tai
The credit for this iconic 1930s drink—whose name is a nod to the Tahitian, “Maita’i,” which means “good”—is usually given to venerable Los Angeles tiki bar Trader Vic’s.
- story: Leslie Pariseau
- photo: Dylan + Jeni
Cricket Ball
Brad Thomas Parsons came across this understated aperitif at the Red Cat in Manhattan. So named because the drink’s hue matches the color of a traditional cricket ball.
- story: Leslie Pariseau
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Autumn Sweater
The bittersweet lyrics of “Autumn Sweater,” from Yo La Tengo’s 1997 album, I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One, serve as the source material for this melancholy change-of-season shoegazer.
- story: Leslie Pariseau
- photo: Ed Anderson