With the advance of autumn, it's time to break out the dark-spirit drinks suitable to the cooler seasons. The Arnaud's Special is a close cousin to the Rob Roy, and was the house cocktail for Arnaud's Restaurant in New Orleans during the 1940s and '50s. More
Short of simply popping open a beer or a straight slug of whiskey, there are few drinks that are less labor-intensive than the venerable highball. With Labor Day this weekend, we figured this was the perfect drink to share. You could reasonably ask the question, "Do we really need a recipe for something so easy?" but while this simple (and flexible) mix of booze, bubbles and ice can be prepared with almost zero thought, a little care in the execution can make all the difference between a watery glass of meh and a damn refreshing drink. More
It may not be as powerful as a flu shot or have the healing properties of the antibiotic it's named for, but the Penicillin Cocktail is a surefire cure for a chilly autumn night. More
For fortification, the Mamie Taylor relies on blended scotch, but while this dark spirit can evoke the cooler months, fresh lime juice lightens the spirit's ponderous demeanor, and a spicy ginger ale or ginger beer places it firmly in summer-cooler territory. More
As if this wasn't enough, the toddy is engagingly flexible: While most people prefer theirs with a good dose of Scotch (this is one of the few mixed drinks where a single-malt is not only appropriate but desirable), a nice Irish whiskey works well; bourbon and rye can also do a suitable job, and a toddy made with a good dark rum has a special kind of appeal. More
This cocktail dates back to at least 1930; that's when it crops up in a slim book called Cocktails, by "Jimmy" late of Ciro's (it also appears in the Savoy Cocktail Book at about the same time). It's too unlikely a bird to ever have enjoyed widespread fame; but its idiosyncrasies are the very things that make it so appealing. More
Let's get this weekend started right. Here's a cocktail to kick things off. Need more than one? Here you go. Cheers! Unlike the unwritten rule about wearing white, there's no stipulation that you must pack away your white liquor after... More
