What are your favorite bourbon/rye drinks to make at home?

[Unpossible]

Looking to expand my horizons and get away from classic cocktails that involve lemon/lime/orange juice as I have been making a ton of those as of late (i.e. Ward Eights, Bourbon Squashes, Derby Cocktails, etc.)

Want to make/find more drinks in the vein of the Old Fashioned, Manhattan and Sazerac. I'm pretty well stocked bitters-wise if that helps.

Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Chicago Mike]

This is a great list of recipes...

Has anyone tried the majority of them and can give us their "rankings" of which are best ??

Also, for your favorite recipe(s), I'm curious if you find a drier whiskey like JD to be better, or a more complex flavor like Makers, WT Rare Breed, etc.

[edodio]

I had this drink at Fiamma Osteria restaurant in NYC and have since been hooked. They called it "Manhattan Below Houston," referring to their location. Its made with Maker's Mark bourbon, Lazzaroni Amaretto, Sweet Vermouth and Grappa-drunk cherries. The recipe they post on their site doesn't dictate the portions. You can follow the normal Manhattan ratio, but cut back on the sweet vermouth and add about as much amaretto as vermouth. I also tried this with other amarettos and other whiskeys, even a cognac, for a slightly different taste. However, for amaretto, I found Lazzaroni to be my favorite. You may have seen the same company's amaretto cookies (which they use to create the liquer). You can find it for $13 at astorwines.com. I can't comment on the Grappa-drunk cherries, since I've never actually made those.

[buttermilk]

My family's standard bourbon drink is a simple mix of 2 parts orange juice, 1 part bourbon (we usually use Elijah Craig, Jim Beam, or Sam Clay, but whatever is available) and a couple dashes of Angostura. It's a simple, pleasing drink we call a Winter Sun.

[negronilover]

Keeping in the spirit of the K.I.S.S. method of cocktail making, try a whiskey sour. Equal parts whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup.

[JoanN]

Not a new recipe, but a suggestion for a truly great garnish. I make a standard swirl-of-bitters, 2-1/2:1 bourbon to sweet vermouth Wild Turkey Manhattan. The garnish is sour cherries I brandied in Maraschino Liqueur last summer when sour cherries were available here in the northeast. Amazing how quickly I can suck down that Manhattan to get to the heavenly cherries. They really, as someone invariably says, kick it up a notch.

[Captain]

I mix one glass with couple small ice cubes or parts of cubes, and pour a good shot of Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye* into the glass, then I enjoy. Different ryes or boubons may be substituted depending on mood, availability and personal taste.

[Chicago Mike]

People will throw tomatos at me, but I love a good bourbon and coke !

[Papa Kip Chee]

Yes my suggestion might be an abomination as well, but if your looking for something a little off the beaten path, try a tall drink with Fresca and a lighter style bourbon like Old Forester. If you want, dash in a few drops of Peychauds or Orange bitters. Yumm...

[chazzer]

On a similar note try bourbon with Mountian Dew or Sun Drop.

[Dennis S]

Did you get that from me? I tried that almost two years ago (Fresca and sweet bourbon - OF is my choice). If anything other than good, it's dangerous.

[kate used to be 50]

I just had a Green Point this past weekend and I apologize, I don't have the recipe, but it is similar to a Red Hook or a Sarerac. It made with rye and green charteuse. A web search may disclose a recipe.

[jpschust]

The Maple Leaf:

3 Parts Buffao Trace or Woodford Reserve
1-2 Parts lemon juice
1 part maple syrup

shake over ice and serve over the same ice. garnish with a lemon

[cherie]

After reading your intriguing recipe, my husband and I tried these this weekend. We LOVED them and plan to make them for bourbon-loving friends next weekend. Thanks for the recipe!

[jpschust]

Of course :) The key is getting a bit more lemon juice in there than maple syrup. I love sharing this recipe- I totally stole it from a restaurant in that I tasted it there and went home and recreated it myself.

[Dennis S]

Wow, I'm going to try this. There was a winter porter that Sam Adams used to produce that was maple tinged that was excellent.

[ponyboy]

I had one of these at Green Street in Cambridge, MA on Saturday. First time I had seen it.. great cocktail!

[MC Slim JB]

The Brooklyn is very nice. Here's my version:

2 ounces rye or bourbon
1 ounce sweet vermouth
1/2 oz Maraschino liqueur
1 dash Amer Picon (hard to find: orange bitters is a decent substitute)

Stir (don't shake) with lots of ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of orange.

[Unpossible]

Yeah, I'm with you both but I'm looking for other drinks since I already make and am a huge fan of the ones you've mentioned.

[Chao]

Oop, sorry about that, I misunderstood the question. I look forward to reading the replies you get!

[Chao]

I very much like Manhattans served with a big, bloody slice of prime rib. But I'm pretty sure I'm not making my Manhattans correctly (few glugs of Woodford Reserve bourbon, small amount of sweet vermouth, usually forget the bitters, add to ice-filled shaker, shake, pour, garnish with a couple of maraschino cherries). Works for me, but I would welcome tuition.

[zin1953]

Sazerac