The Hanky Panky Cocktail is a classic that dates back to at least the 1920s, so there have been some variations on it. The overall flavor is bittersweet, like dark chocolate.
The Algonquin is a very old classic that dates back to at least the 1930s. It features rye bourbon with dry vermouth and pineapple juice, which makes for a sweet, easy-going, slightly tropical cocktail.
If you’ve rejected the Negroni in the past because you don’t like gin, you might want to try The Boulevardier. It uses whiskey instead of gin, and the flavor difference is surprising.
The Affinity Cocktail is an old-school style cocktail, with no fruity liqueurs or fancy herbs. It features two fearsome ounces of scotch, plus dry and sweet vermouth, so it’s technically a double.
The Cascade Cocktail is an extremely sweet cocktail that tastes like blackcurrant (or raisins) with hints of grape and spice. I find it too cloyingly sweet, so I added my own variation (Recipe #2) which waters those two ingredients down with gin.
The Superman Cocktail features gin and dry vermouth with mandarin juice, apricot brandy and grenadine. If it wasn’t called Superman, you might think it’s perfect for a girl’s night out.
The Bermuda Highball blends brandy with gin and vermouth, and adds a couple of marrying ingredients to make the whole thing work. It tastes like a carbonated martini that’s had some fruit and wood notes added to it.
