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
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
Sazerac
At first glance, this cocktail looks like a twist on the Old Fashioned with a splash of absinthe and specialty bitters, but the backstory is a bit more complicated.
- story: Leslie Pariseau
- photo: Ed Anderson
Rye Whiskey Syrup
Equal parts rye and sugar, this strong play on simple syrup is a necessary component of the Bitter Handshake, a recipe from Brad Thomas Parsons' book, Bitters.
- story: Leslie Pariseau
Perfect Manhattan
The "perfect" modifier indicates a combination of dry and sweet vermouths as opposed to the original Manhattan's full measure of sweet vermouth.
- story: Leslie Pariseau
- photo: Daniel Krieger
Old Pal
Harry MacElhone of Harry’s Bar in Paris credited his “old pal,” sports journalist and barfly William “Sparrow” Robertson, with the inspiration for this drink.
- story: Leslie Pariseau
- photo: Daniel Krieger
New Yorker in LA Sour
Aaron Polsky, bar manager at Harvard & Stone, uses Lillet Rouge alongside the pineapple-based Tepache in his play on the New York Sour.
- story: Chloe Frechette
Bitter Handshake
Bartender Andrew Bohrer developed this after-dinner Fernet old-fashioned digestif of sorts, with an ingenious rye whiskey syrup subbing in for the standard simple syrup.
- story: Leslie Pariseau
- photo: Lizzie Munro
New Old-Fashioned
The Old-Fashioned is as traditional of a cocktail as they come: a simple mix of spirits, sugar, bitters and water. This alternate version adds a bit of muddled fruit, in…
- story: Leslie Pariseau
Remember the Maine
Described first by spirits writer Charles H. Baker in his 1939 classic, the Gentleman’s Companion, this rye-based drink has an ingredient list that’s part Sazerac, part Manhattan.
- story: Leslie Pariseau
- photos: Daniel Krieger
