Old Pal

A cousin to the Boulevardier, balancing whiskey and Campari with dry vermouth.

Intro to Aperol

Audrey Saunders of Pegu Club in New York created this fruity and bittersweet drink to introduce customers to the flavor of Aperol. The cocktail is citrusy and mildly herbal, with a subtle undercurrent of bitterness.

Blonde Redhead

This cocktail, created by Douglas Derrick of Ava Gene's in Portland, Oregon, is a masterful combination of just three ingredients: spicy whiskey, luscious vermouth, and complex Barolo Chinato, a bittersweet, herb- and spice-dosed digestivo made from one of Italy's best wines. The result is chocolaty, smooth, and deep. Though it's in the same family, it's subtler than a Boulevardier.

Americano

Tall, refreshing, and bittersweet.

The Two-One-Two

Created by New York bartender and consultant Willy Shine, the Two-One-Two is brilliantly simple, yet has an engagingly complex flavor. Composed of a base of reposado tequila—Partida, one of the better brands to emerge in recent years, is recommended here—the Two-One-Two includes a couple of the agave spirit's most agreeable companions: fresh grapefruit juice, and the Italian amaro Aperol, a bright, bitter liqueur rich with orange peel and rhubarb.

Man About Town

This cocktail from Gramercy Tavern in NYC is a take on a Boulevardier (which is like a Negroni, but with bourbon instead of gin). Here, however, spicy rye is the star, complemented by the bittersweet Sicilian amaro, Cynar.

Boulevardier

Essentially a Negroni with whiskey swapped in for gin, this classic is a beautiful cocktail in its own right.

The New Hickory Cocktail

This pungent twist on the classic Old Hickory Cocktail substitutes uses bittersweet, vegetal Cynar instead of sweet vermouth and dry Manzanilla sherry instead of dry vermouth

Rhubarb and Roses

Rhubarb is a noted ingredient in the Italian aperitif Aperol. Pairing Aperol with the rhubarb shrub really highlights this flavor note and lets the more savory side of rhubarb shine.

Palpable Apathy (Braulio Boulevardier Cocktail)

Mixed with rye and sweet vermouth, Braulio adds richness and a distinctive herbal, almost menthol-like character to this drink. If you're a fan of whiskey and you like fernet, you'll love this cocktail.