Kingston Negroni

I love a traditional Negroni, but this may be even better. A little sweeter, more depth of flavor and a silky mouth feel. I'll be making more of these.

1oz Smith & Cross Jamaica Rum

1oz Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth

1oz Campari

Combine all ingredients in an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube. Stir until chilled. Garnish with an orange twist. 

Long Island Iced Tea

.5oz Vodka

.5oz Gin

.5oz White Rum

.5oz Silver Tequila

.5oz Cointreau

.75oz Lemon Juice

2tsp Simple Syrup

.75oz Mexican Coke

Shake ingredients (except the Coke), then strain into a Highball or Collins glass over ice. Top with Coke and a lemon twist.  

Next time I'd probably double everything, this is a Long Island Iced Tea after all, use a bit less lemon juice and garnish with a lemon wedge instead of a twist.

Penicillin

The first time I had this lovely concoction it was 2 am, yet still 95 degrees outside. I was at Gramps in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami with a couple of colleagues, blowing off steam from a conference. The first sip was a revelation -- refreshing and bracing at the same time. The perfect drink for 2 am Miami in May. The night continued on for many hours, with at least one more Penicillin, and lots of talk about psychedelics -if that tells you anything.

2oz Blended Scotch 

.75oz Islay Scotch -I go with a full ounce if I'm feeling frisky.

.75oz Lemon Juice

.25oz Honey Ginger Syrup

To make the honey ginger syrup combine .5 cup honey, .5 cup water, 1 inch piece of freshly peeled and thinly sliced ginger. Bring to a boil. Let steep over night. Strain. Cool.

Build the drink in the glass. Add a large cube. Garnish with a slice of ginger. Enjoy. 

Paper Plane

Me, after my first sip: Oh, that is fucking delightful.

This classic of the modern classics does not disappoint. 

1oz Aperol

1oz Bourbon

1oz Amaro Nonino

1oz Lemon Juice

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail tin, add ice and shake vigorously. Double strain into a chilled glass. 

Enzoni

Very similar to the classic Negroni, but a little more refreshing. 

1oz London Dry Gin

1oz Campari

.75oz Lemon Juice

.5oz Simple Syrup

4-5 Grapes

Combine the ingredients in a shaker, lightly muddle the grapes. Add ice, shake, double strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube. Garnish with a Grape.

Jasmine Cooler

1.5oz London Dry Gin

1oz Cointreau

.75oz Campari

.5oz Lemon Juice

Soda Water

Shake the first four ingredients with ice, double strain into an old fashioned with ice and top with soda water. Garnish with some lemon.

A more traditional way to serve this is in a Collins glass, leaving room for a few ounces of soda water. However, if you want something more bracing, bitter and sour -something more akin to an aperitif- just a splash of soda water is enough to open things up.

Sun Liquor's South Side

The now defunct Sun Liquor Distillery & Lounge in Capitol Hill used to have Seattle's best burgers and a unique take on the classic South Side cocktail. I took mine with bourbon rather than gin, which probably takes it firmly out of South Side territory. 

2oz Gin or Bourbon

.75oz Lime Juice

5 Mint Leaves

.75oz Simple Syrup

Ginger Beer

In a shaker, gently muddle the lime juice and mint leaves. Add the simple and gin then shake. Double strain into an old fashioned glass with ice and top with ginger beer. Garnish with lime.

Intro to Aperol

2oz Aperol 

1oz Gin 

.75oz Lemon Juice 

1 Dash Angostura Bitters

Shake with ice and double strain into a cocktail glass.

Gin Campari Sour

1.5oz London Dry Gin
.75oz Campari
.75oz Lemon Juice
.5oz Simple Syrup
1 Egg White
1 Dash Orange Bitters

Dry shake, then shake with ice, double strain into a chilled coupe.