Moto Guzzi Cocktail

High-proof bourbon meets its match with bitter Punt e Mes. [ class="istock">Photographs: Vicky Wasik]

This two-ingredient drink was created by Boston bartender John Gertsen. Gertsen and his fellow bartender Kevin Montuori were riffing on Manhattan variations, especially ones using high-proof Booker's bourbon. Punt e Mes is an Italian vermouth, more bitter than most sweet vermouths. At 120+ proof, Booker's can take Punt e Mes on head to head, so the Boston barkeeps decided 50-50 was the way to go. Because of Punt e Mes's bitterness, this drink doesn't call for the addition of bitters.

Note: If you don't have Booker's, try Jim Beam Black instead; it's a similar mashbill as the Booker's (possibly even the same), but aged for a shorter time and bottled at a lower proof. You might try a 2:1 ratio of Beam Black and Punt e Mes.