10-18-2024

This Last Word riff was created by Phil Ward in 2008 for Death & Company (NYC). Ward says, “It doesn't make sense, but peaty Scotch and lime juice are amazing together, so I used this surprising combo in a variation on the Last Word." This one is herbaceous, smoky, and has a bit of cherry flavor. Cheers y’all!

10-17-2024

This cocktail comes from Attaboy (New York City). I found it on Frederic Yarn’s page (@fredericyarm) and had to reshake it. This one very much reads like a passionfruit Infante sans rose water. Every sip is bright and vibrant. The fresh nutmeg releases aromatic oils, which adds a warm and spicy scent as you sip. Cheers y’all!

10-16-2024

Folks said they wanted an old fashioned series, so here is another riff of mine. Split basing is a great way to introduce new flavors. I thought the spice of the rye would pair well with a funky Jamaican rum (Doctor Bird). I added some more pineapple because it’s very subtle in DB. Cheers y’all!

10-15-2024

This one is an original of mine. It is a rich, layered cocktail with tropical flair. Aged rum provides depth, coconut rum adds smooth sweetness, and coffee liqueur brings a bold, roasty note. A hint of passionfruit adds tartness, balanced with lime and tiki bitters for complexity. Cheers y’all!

10-14-2024

This cocktail was created by the one, the only, tiki-legend Jeff “Beachbum” Berry in 2009 for Smuggler’s Cove (San Francisco). The name of this drink translates to “Lost World” (it has nothing to do with Jurassic Park). This is a good one as we enjoy fall and the winter to come. Cheers y’all!

10-13-2024

A daiquiri might just be my deathbed cocktail. I came across this fall daiquiri by Joaquín Simó, who made it for Death & Co (@deathandcompany). Simó tried various rums before choosing Mount Gay Eclipse, which adds a distinct apple-like character to the drink. Cheers y’all!

10-11-2024

This cocktail was created by a Vancouver bartender for a patron by the name of Joy Pecknold. Unfortunately, Joy recently passed away in a car accident in August. Her nephew, McKinley Bainard, recently shared this drink and her story, sparking folks to reshake this for Joy, a lover of life and mezcal Last Words. Cheers Joy!

10-11-2024

This split base old fashioned is an original of mine. I wanted to make something tropical, but a sipper. I sweeten it up just a touch with a coconut oolong demerara syrup, which brings in a hint of tropical richness. The lime and tiki bitters add a little kick of citrus and spice. Cheers y’all!

10-10-2024

This reverse Manhattan was created by Turk Dietrich for Cure (@curenola; New Orleans, LA). The vanilla and orange notes of the vermouth are complemented by herbaceous Chartreuse and a spicy overproof rye. Aromatic bitters with a Christmas-spice vibe add warmth, creating a richer, smoother twist on the classic. Cheers y’all!

10-09-2024

This cocktail is by Michael Shea, owner of one of my favorite Portland bars, Rum Club (@rumclubpdx). It is a twist on the classic Martinez cocktail. Nothing beats having this in the club, as they use a house blend of rums that you can’t replicate. Cheers y’all!

10-08-2024

This drink was created by Michael Yusko for Cure (New Orleans, LA). Yusko aimed to make use of a neglected bottle of Licor 43, a citrus and vanilla-flavored liqueur popular in Spain, by incorporating it into a rum-based Manhattan variation. He named this after a quote from the 1992 Hal Hartley film Simple Men. Cheers y’all!

10-07-2024

This one is by fellow professor, Martin Foys, creator of The Gin Pennant (@theginpennant), a private speakeasy-style “bar” in Madison, WI. This Scotch Negroni has layers of complexity from the bitter nonino and herbal Bénédictine. The proportions make this one smoother and more nuanced than the traditional. The applewood smoke, though optional, transports you to a dimly lit, vintage bar where the air is filled with the soft glow of brass fixtures, hushed conversation, and the deep, smoky allure of fine spirits. Cheers y’all!

10-06-2024

Who wants an Old Fashioned cocktail series? As fall gets into full swing, the spirit forward cocktails are flowing. The template for an old fashioned is easy to riff on. If you enjoy fall and winter spices, you should get a bottle of allspice dram. It adds a warm, aromatic flavor with notes of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Cheers y’all!

10-05-2024

Fall is in the air, so get ready for all the stirred cocktails. Of course, I had to mix up a maple old fashioned. Here I used a combo of bitters to bring out the fall vibes, and the extra touch of salinity from the meat stick accentuates the flavors and is simply divine. Cheers y’all!

10-04-2024

This cocktail was created by Dominic Alling, who was inspired by childhood memories of taking Angostura bitters for stomachaches. This mezcal variation of the Trinidad Sour balances bold flavors like orgeat and Angostura bitters. Mezcal’s complexity allows these ingredients to blend well together with a hefty pour of bitters. Cheers y’all!

10-03-2024

This cocktail comes from one of my favorite bars, Cure, in New Orleans. Turk Dietrich is to thank for this beauty. Bonal is a bitter and spicy gentiane fortified wine. Dietrich went the whiskey sour route here and I’m in love. Cheers y’all!

10-02-2024

This classic cocktail dates back to 1930, where it was featured in Harry Craddock’s The Savoy Cocktail Book. The original was shaken, but giving it a long stir to ensure proper dilution is the way it’s typically served now. This one is perfect for the early autumn days. Watch the leaves turn and the temperature lower while sipping this one. Cheers y’all!

10-01-2024

Apparently this cocktail is so good that I had already made it this year (oops!). You can find my first post on it back in January (https://www.danielzajic.com/cocktails/toronto). This cocktail dates back to the mid-20th century. Since its creation, it has evolved like most classic cocktails. Its defining characteristic is the use of Fernet Branca, an Italian amaro, which adds a unique menthol-like bitterness. The original used simple syrup, but maple adds an extra layer of depth. Cheers y’all!

09-30-2024

This cocktail was created by Elliott Clark (@apartment_bartender) and I found it in his new book, “Let’s Do Drinks.” As we celebrate the first day do October, it’s time to break out the fall spices and make a seasonal sour. Chai syrup has notes of star anise, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom, that work well with a dark aged rum. Cheers y’all!

09-29-2024

Meet the modern classic created by Audrey Saunders in 2005 when she opened the legendary Pegu Club (NYC; now closed). This was her take on a house Manhattan. The idea of swapping an amaro in for the bitters occurred to Saunders during a dinner at the New York restaurant Raoul's. Saunders preferred Rittenhouse when they created it. Cheers y’all!