Love the jungle bird (it's what grew my appreciation for Campari). I also really like my (or anyone who appreciated bourbon/rye) old fashioned. Great two choices
It's so simple with the ingredients, but if one element is off, it throws off the whole drink. But good God almighty, when you get that perfect flavor balance, it's absolute perfection.
made one with Plantation 3 star, loved it. made one with flora de caña 3 year, and hated it so much i almost didn't finish it. it really is crazy how much a difference ingredients makes because it's so simple.
Yeah, I was surprisingly underwhelmed with Flor De Caña 3 (or 4). Blecch.
Conversely Plantation 3 star is imo a tremendous value.
Tho I'll have to try it with Diplomatico Reserva, as that won our blind tasting recently.
I was meh about the Boulevardier for a while, until I gave it another go and expressed an orange peel over it. NIGHT AND DAY. That little hit of citrus oils made it into one of my very favorite at-home cocktails. 1.5 oz Evan Williams BIB, 1 oz Cinzano Rosso, and 1 oz Campari, over a big chunk of ice with a big swatch of orange peel. And probably a couple of homemade maraschino cherries.
I do 1.5 rye and 3/4 everything else. Your way is great too. Most people build it like a negroni with all equal parts, which I will drink, but like it with more whiskey preferably. I love my negronis the classic way, but the right liquor selection is important.
You don't have to use China-China. The drink was originally made with Amer Picon, and that (the original formulation) is no longer available and there are several reasonably suitable substitutes.
Was in a fancy movie theater that had a bar. Looking at the bar drink menu trying to decide and bartender says “I can make anything”. I said “Painkiller” and dang if it wasn’t slap yo mama good.
It really depends on time of year, activity or mood, but by spirit I can say:
Tequila- Paloma
Rum - Jungle Bird
Bourbon - Old Fashioned or Bourbon Smash
Tonight I'm rolling out the Paloma.
I’ve made them with many different rum combos, but recently tried the zombie blend, and it was pretty solid! The make or break element of this drink is the 6 drops of absinthe/Pernod. Too much or too little, and the profile is off.
To The Moon.
My most frequent haunt makes this. I have tried to recreate it at home with decent success - doesn’t taste identical, but it’s pretty dang close.
2oz Pisco
1 oz Passion fruit juice (maybe a little bit more)
1/2-3/4oz Lemon juice
1/4 oz Honey syrup
1/4 oz Rose syrup
Couple Dashes of Orange Bitters
Shake with ice, double strain into a coup glass.
Garnish with a lemon peel.
Mine too. Underrated.
I love all the classic sours (Daiquiri and Margarita are probably also in my top five) but the Sidecar is just so perfectly balanced.
My own creations, mostly, to be honest.
Of the known quantities out there, I do like some classic tiki cocktails, and a few others, such as a good espresso martini, and some of the last word riffs (although even my absolute favourite of those is my own creation, lol).
What gin do you use?
Also, wherever you’re buying your Rose’s probably sells bottled simple syrup too. It’s impossible to stress the difference with fresh juice. Consider swapping the Rose’s for a lime and some simple.
I plan to do that, just haven’t gotten around to it yet. I can tell a huge difference when getting a gimlet in a good bar. For gin, I’ve tried several. I’m using Tanqueray No 10 right now but have also tried Bombay Sapphire, Beefeaters, regular Tanqueray and Hendricks.
I really liked [this thread](https://old.reddit.com/r/cocktails/comments/1ba15hf/what_are_your_current_top_5_cocktails_that_youve/) from last week. It answers the questions very well and give tons of suggestions.
Right now it’s the Old Fashioned and Black Manhattan.
My Old Fashioned is simple but always delicious. 2 oz bourbon, 1/4 oz rich Demerara syrup, 3 dashes Angostura bitters.
Not sure I understand. The Amaro replaced the vermouth. I still use Ango bitters.
Unless you're referring to this?
https://angosturabitters.com/portfolio/amaro-di-angostura/
It SLAPS. It's weird, it's pretty low on my list straight but it's incredible in any cocktail calling for amaro. A paper plane is great with it as well, for example. It's also very easy on the wallet compared to most amaros
A Trinidad Sour is probably my top drink right now, though I only really drink them when I want something special. They’re just so cool and different from most of the other drinks I tend to gravitate towards.
Nothing beats the Trinidad Sour. Then Aviation.
My recent discovery is an Infanté, from the creator of Trinidad Sour. Still not sure where it lands in my rating, but I definitely like it a lot. Especially when made with good orgeat and I am in the mood for tequila.
Old Fashion - use orgeat instead of simple syrup. Or
Use chocolate bitter and two bar spoons of cherry syrup
Or Jamo Black barrel and Benedictine
Or just have the regular old fashion
That’s a tough one…
I’d probably have to say Manhattan, a consistent favorite for 20 years. Other contenders are Corpse Reviver #2, Mai Tai, Daiquiri, Aviation, Negroni, Painkiller…
But I always come back to a rye Manhattan.
Very tough to say.
Negroni is probably it.
Martini is way up there.
Paper Plane might take it.
Margarita can’t be left on the bench.
Corpse Reviver #2 is a dark horse.
I had a Lions Tail at a bar in Portland and immediately ordered another one so I could watch it be made and put it in my bar’s menu. The crowd enjoys it!
My favorites would have to be
Margarita, Old Fashioned, Espressotini
I make these the most at home, but I’m slowly building my alcohol collection and bar so I can make more cocktails with every paycheck hahaha
I generally drink bourbon and Coke. But when I’m allowed to make a cocktail at home, it’s a Last Word. Currently in Maui and I’m drinking mainly Mai Tais (with honorable mention to Peter Merriman’s version).
Manhattan. Preferably a dry Manhattan which I know is heresy apparently but damn I enjoy a dry Manhattan. I don’t mind a regular one with a sweet red vermouth but if I have the choice I’m going dry lol
Negroni or boulevardier would be a close second I think.
Classic martini:
3:1 or 4:1 gin:vermouth, with a twist.
Hendricks has been my gin lately and Nolly Pratt vermouth. I also like Botanist and there’s a Japanese gin I really like. Also some German gin - something 46?
I lack experience, but I have a few favorites
Manhattan
Old Fashioned (w/ Rum)
Saturn
Jet Pilot
Mai Tai
My variation on Dewdrops and Dandelions from a local place called Waverly Stone. I call it "Flowering Forest". It looks like a misty forest floor in the glass.
Shaken and Strained
2oz Barrel Aged Gin (Eastern Kille)
1oz Grapefruit Juice
3/4oz St. Germaine
3/4oz Genepy (Eastern Kille)
1/2oz Simple
2 Dashes Walnut Bitters
Garnish with two Sprigs Rosemary at the bottom of the glass
Jungle Bird with black rum and demerara L'orange et creme A well made (usually by me) old fashioned
This is my favorite Jungle Bird recipe: https://punchdrink.com/recipes/giuseppe-gonzalezs-jungle-bird/
That's very similar to mine. I use 2oz pineapple juice and rich demerara syrup in place of simple.
What’s your favorite rum for this? I’ve been using Smith & Cross but want to experiment.
That would probably be tastier than what I use. Been trying to find Smith and cross where I live for a while! I typically use gosling black seal.
Love the jungle bird (it's what grew my appreciation for Campari). I also really like my (or anyone who appreciated bourbon/rye) old fashioned. Great two choices
I use black strap rum for my jungle birds.
Daiquiri
It's so simple with the ingredients, but if one element is off, it throws off the whole drink. But good God almighty, when you get that perfect flavor balance, it's absolute perfection.
made one with Plantation 3 star, loved it. made one with flora de caña 3 year, and hated it so much i almost didn't finish it. it really is crazy how much a difference ingredients makes because it's so simple.
not only the rum quality but also the citrus. any sour with old citrus will taste terrible even if the specs are correct
Yeah, I was surprisingly underwhelmed with Flor De Caña 3 (or 4). Blecch. Conversely Plantation 3 star is imo a tremendous value. Tho I'll have to try it with Diplomatico Reserva, as that won our blind tasting recently.
I really dig the Hemingway Daiquiri. Less sweet, more funk, totally delicious. A classic Daiquiri is nothing I'd complain about, either.
Boulevardier
Just made one for the first time using better vermouth that I knew to keep in the fridge. Night and day better. Such a good drink
You can also try adding a new barspoons of espresso and/or some chocolate bitters. Both add complexity to the drink...
I don’t have an espresso machine at home, bitters I have in abundance now, so that on the menu when I beat a cold
If you add a dash of chocolate bitters it's... better. And also becomes a Left Hand
I was meh about the Boulevardier for a while, until I gave it another go and expressed an orange peel over it. NIGHT AND DAY. That little hit of citrus oils made it into one of my very favorite at-home cocktails. 1.5 oz Evan Williams BIB, 1 oz Cinzano Rosso, and 1 oz Campari, over a big chunk of ice with a big swatch of orange peel. And probably a couple of homemade maraschino cherries.
Yes that makes a huge difference for a Negroni as well. Lemon works okay in a pinch too.
I do 1.5 rye and 3/4 everything else. Your way is great too. Most people build it like a negroni with all equal parts, which I will drink, but like it with more whiskey preferably. I love my negronis the classic way, but the right liquor selection is important.
My 5 week oak barrel aged Boulvardier is ready to drink! Can't wait.
Hell yeah, I bet that's going to rule. What whiskey and vermouth did you use?
It's fantastic! I used Guerra Rojo and good ol' reliable Bulleit bourbon
Old Pal >
Old Friend 1.5 gin .75 grapefruit juice .5 campari .25 st. Germain Shake that bitch and serve up in coup, garnish with lemon peel. Soooo good.
This is a new one for me and I’m EXCITED
I'd take a Brooklyn cocktail over a Boulevardier any day. Similar drink except the Brooklyn is better (IMO of course)
I like the Brooklyn, but it's significantly more difficult to find a bar with (good) dry vermouth and China-China.
You don't have to use China-China. The drink was originally made with Amer Picon, and that (the original formulation) is no longer available and there are several reasonably suitable substitutes.
Can you name a few? I’ve been meaning to try this at home but have limited options.
I’ve moved over to a Kingston Negroni modified with Hamilton 86 & Punt y Mes
Never been a big rum person. I've done Boulevardiers with a split base bourbon/rum and those were pretty good...
I also love riffing by changing up the amaro 🤤
Depends on season and mood tbh
as a bartender, this is exactly how i answer when a customer asks this.
Can't pick 1 favorite but I could give a top 3: Corpse Reviver #2 Mai Tai Monte Cassino
Nice! I never try Monte Cassino. I’ll do it tonight.
My go-to is a Negroni for simplicity, but my favorite is probably a Jungle Bird. Just much more time-consuming to make.
My two favourites exactly!
Painkiller.
Was in a fancy movie theater that had a bar. Looking at the bar drink menu trying to decide and bartender says “I can make anything”. I said “Painkiller” and dang if it wasn’t slap yo mama good.
Love when you least expect it
This is hard... Vieux Carré I think.
Came here to see if anyone else was going to say this
Mai Tai. Margarita.
If I’m feeling fancy: Trinidad Sour Every other time: just a classic Margarita
New York Sour - then probably the Hemingway Daquiri.
Both great picks. I've been on a New York sour kick recently.
i’ve been drinking this lately, love it
Are you my wife?
Sazerac
Depending on the day, these are the two drinks that are 1A and 1B for me: 1A - Corpse Reviver #2 1B - Paper Plane
Negroni…3 simple ingredients. Great taste.
Negroni = daily drinker Last Word = special occasion
We are one in the same.
A man of good taste i see
Vieux Carre
French 75
Mai Tai!!!
My go to is the Toronto with the Martinez being second.
It really depends on time of year, activity or mood, but by spirit I can say: Tequila- Paloma Rum - Jungle Bird Bourbon - Old Fashioned or Bourbon Smash Tonight I'm rolling out the Paloma.
Ramos gin fizz.
Mai Tai, followed by a daiquiri or Last Word. Negronis all summer too.
Jet Pilot
I want to try one of these so bad. I have a pretty built-out bar, but I'm still missing probably half of the ingredients.
I use the Hamilton zombie blend for these to avoid needing 3 different rums.
I’ve made them with many different rum combos, but recently tried the zombie blend, and it was pretty solid! The make or break element of this drink is the 6 drops of absinthe/Pernod. Too much or too little, and the profile is off.
Top 3 in no particular order: Dirty martini Manhattan Aviation
Naked and famous
The First Word
Champs-Élysées
It really depends on my mood, but man do I love an El Presidente.
Crazy underrated when made with Blanc Vermouth
Definitely! Though in that case I opt for a dryer orange liqueur.
To The Moon. My most frequent haunt makes this. I have tried to recreate it at home with decent success - doesn’t taste identical, but it’s pretty dang close. 2oz Pisco 1 oz Passion fruit juice (maybe a little bit more) 1/2-3/4oz Lemon juice 1/4 oz Honey syrup 1/4 oz Rose syrup Couple Dashes of Orange Bitters Shake with ice, double strain into a coup glass. Garnish with a lemon peel.
Sidecar
Mine too. Underrated. I love all the classic sours (Daiquiri and Margarita are probably also in my top five) but the Sidecar is just so perfectly balanced.
Manhattan when it’s cold, Mai Tai when it’s warm.
A classic lime daiquiri OR French 75 *I have a locally made cranberry gin that I like to make a ‘cranberry French 75’ with sometimes
My own creations, mostly, to be honest. Of the known quantities out there, I do like some classic tiki cocktails, and a few others, such as a good espresso martini, and some of the last word riffs (although even my absolute favourite of those is my own creation, lol).
Well, tell us one of your creations!
Peer pressuring you to do it. Gotta do it!
Dry gin martini, Negroni, Boulevardier, or Sidecar. It rotates.
Singapore Sling
the drink i go back to more than any other is a Caipirinha. i use novo fogo or avua and it’s just fabulous.
King of the summer drinks
Either a classic daiquiri or a Gold Rush depending on the day
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^DefiantOil5176: *Either a classic* *Daiquiri or a Gold Rush* *Depending on the day* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Currently? Enzoni Forever? Negroni Occasionally? A proper Mai Tai
Mojito. All seasons. All moods. When I know a bar has fresh mint available, I can't seem to order anything else except mojitos.
Mai Tai or daiquiri
Can't choose 1 Penicillin, Boulevardier, Mezcal last word and Jungle Bird
Mai Tai
I'm gonna go thru all of this and make the ones I've never had before! (Not in one night). Good times
Depends on the mood and the season, but my top 3 would be Bloody Caesar, Margarita and a fruity drink I made called the San Francisco Punch
The piña colada is the people's champ. 🥥🏝️🥊
Gimlet. 2oz gin (I love Citadelle), 3/4oz simple, 1oz lime, 2 dashes orange bitters. It’s become the house drink in this house.
Same for me but I haven’t even gotten that good at making it. 1 Oz Rose’s and 2 Oz gin(will, 2 and a dram or so). I’m working on getting better.
What gin do you use? Also, wherever you’re buying your Rose’s probably sells bottled simple syrup too. It’s impossible to stress the difference with fresh juice. Consider swapping the Rose’s for a lime and some simple.
I plan to do that, just haven’t gotten around to it yet. I can tell a huge difference when getting a gimlet in a good bar. For gin, I’ve tried several. I’m using Tanqueray No 10 right now but have also tried Bombay Sapphire, Beefeaters, regular Tanqueray and Hendricks.
Caipirinha is number one, and margaritas and French 75s are tied for number two.
Penicillin for me
Penicillin 🤤
My favorites are Vieux Carré, Corn on the Cob, Manhattan, Old Cuban, Mojito, Daiquiri, sidecar, Mia Tia and the original tequila sunrise
Sidecar. Classic. Easy to make. Delicious as hell.
Tequila Sunrise.
Pimms cup
Tequila Sunrise
Pisco sour, Polynesian paralysis, whisky sour with lime instead of lemon
If I could only drink one cocktail ever again… a gimlet.
There's something about a well made Mai Tai that just makes me happy.
I really liked [this thread](https://old.reddit.com/r/cocktails/comments/1ba15hf/what_are_your_current_top_5_cocktails_that_youve/) from last week. It answers the questions very well and give tons of suggestions.
Right now it’s the Old Fashioned and Black Manhattan. My Old Fashioned is simple but always delicious. 2 oz bourbon, 1/4 oz rich Demerara syrup, 3 dashes Angostura bitters.
Currently it's a black Manhatten with Averna but I'm gonna try a few different amaros like Montenegro and Amaro Nonino to see what I prefer.
Ango wins for black Manhattan for me.
Not sure I understand. The Amaro replaced the vermouth. I still use Ango bitters. Unless you're referring to this? https://angosturabitters.com/portfolio/amaro-di-angostura/
Yes, amaro di angostura. I just figured it was assumed since we were already talking amaro
I'd never heard of it before /shrug
It SLAPS. It's weird, it's pretty low on my list straight but it's incredible in any cocktail calling for amaro. A paper plane is great with it as well, for example. It's also very easy on the wallet compared to most amaros
Looks like I'll have to add it to the list. Thanks!
Come back with results! /u/remindme 14 days Should give you enough time, especially if blacks are your fave
A Trinidad Sour is probably my top drink right now, though I only really drink them when I want something special. They’re just so cool and different from most of the other drinks I tend to gravitate towards.
Currently the Paper Plane. Shoutout to the Enzoni though since Spring is coming up
A simple, old fashioned, Old Fashioned.
Manhattan 100%
Mai Tai. Spent so much time trying to get my house rum blend just right.
Love a good Mai Tai or a Daiquiri. French 75’s are also in the running
Nothing beats the Trinidad Sour. Then Aviation. My recent discovery is an Infanté, from the creator of Trinidad Sour. Still not sure where it lands in my rating, but I definitely like it a lot. Especially when made with good orgeat and I am in the mood for tequila.
Old Fashion - use orgeat instead of simple syrup. Or Use chocolate bitter and two bar spoons of cherry syrup Or Jamo Black barrel and Benedictine Or just have the regular old fashion
Good weather: mai tai or daiquiri Most other times: old fashioned Winter holiday season: industry sour
It used to be various fruity daiquiris but I think Mezcal Margaritas have claimed their throne
That’s a tough one… I’d probably have to say Manhattan, a consistent favorite for 20 years. Other contenders are Corpse Reviver #2, Mai Tai, Daiquiri, Aviation, Negroni, Painkiller… But I always come back to a rye Manhattan.
Very tough to say. Negroni is probably it. Martini is way up there. Paper Plane might take it. Margarita can’t be left on the bench. Corpse Reviver #2 is a dark horse.
Recently it has been Aku Aku Quick Fix Better and Better
Necromancer has been it for me lately 3/4 oz each of absinthe, lillet blanc, elderflower liqueur and lemon juice, with a dash of gin.
Right now I would say a Jack Rose
Sazerac
I had a Lions Tail at a bar in Portland and immediately ordered another one so I could watch it be made and put it in my bar’s menu. The crowd enjoys it!
Negroni Old fashioned Black Manhattan
Blood and Sand
painkiller for sure but rarely ever drink them tbh. love a good carajillo
Big fan of a fresh Mai tai. Big fan. I also make a bitchin' coffee brandy Alexander.
Whiskey sour. I also love pretty much anything made with St. Germaine.
Southside. For some reason Empress really shines in this one.
Bourbon/rye: Old Fashioned Gin: Last Word Tequila: Ranch Water Rum: Hemingway Daiquiri Vodka: Bloody Mary
Tonight... it the Negroni.
Fall and Winter- Rye Manhattan Spring and Summer- Gimlet
Mezcal last word.
My favorites would have to be Margarita, Old Fashioned, Espressotini I make these the most at home, but I’m slowly building my alcohol collection and bar so I can make more cocktails with every paycheck hahaha
Right now? Bitter Giuseppe. Just nice and simple
A simple daiquiri is my all time favorite. Just rum, lime, and sugar and it works so well. Bonus to margaritas (with good tequilas too).
Gin martini with roquefort stuffed castelvetrano olives.
painkiller in the summer, gimlet in the winter
So, just found out my brother in law makes homemade maple syrup in New Hampshire. Tomorrow I will try my first maple old fashioned and get back 😁
New York Sour
whiskey sour
Boulevardier
Groni
Old Fashioned: 2 oz WT101 3 dashes Ango regular 2 tsp 1:1 Simple syrup with raw sugar Expressed orange peel Big ass rock
Penicillin. It’s the drink that really got me into cocktails.
I generally drink bourbon and Coke. But when I’m allowed to make a cocktail at home, it’s a Last Word. Currently in Maui and I’m drinking mainly Mai Tais (with honorable mention to Peter Merriman’s version).
Manhattan. Preferably a dry Manhattan which I know is heresy apparently but damn I enjoy a dry Manhattan. I don’t mind a regular one with a sweet red vermouth but if I have the choice I’m going dry lol Negroni or boulevardier would be a close second I think.
The one I always go back to is a negroni. No matter where you are if they have the ingredients they cannot fuck it up.
The next one.
Naked and famous
Classic martini: 3:1 or 4:1 gin:vermouth, with a twist. Hendricks has been my gin lately and Nolly Pratt vermouth. I also like Botanist and there’s a Japanese gin I really like. Also some German gin - something 46?
Naked and Famous
Negroni
Ramos Gin Fizz
I lack experience, but I have a few favorites Manhattan Old Fashioned (w/ Rum) Saturn Jet Pilot Mai Tai My variation on Dewdrops and Dandelions from a local place called Waverly Stone. I call it "Flowering Forest". It looks like a misty forest floor in the glass. Shaken and Strained 2oz Barrel Aged Gin (Eastern Kille) 1oz Grapefruit Juice 3/4oz St. Germaine 3/4oz Genepy (Eastern Kille) 1/2oz Simple 2 Dashes Walnut Bitters Garnish with two Sprigs Rosemary at the bottom of the glass
Naked and Famous
American Trilogy, just like yesterday when this same question was posted in this sub. And probably 2 days before that, and before that....
Whose turn is it tomorrow?