Boulevardier

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

New Friend

This twist on the classic Old Pal cocktail uses lighter-flavored Aperol instead of Campari, and brings in bitter Cocchi Americano in the place of dry vermouth. It's an easy-drinking combination.

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.

The Red Hook

Here's a relative of the Manhattan that dates to within the past five years, a drink created by New York bartender Enzo Errico that utilizes its ancestor's rye whiskey base, matches it with the bitter Italian vermouth Punt e Mes, and fills in the flavor with a hearty dose of funky maraschino liqueur. Named for a once rough-and-tumble Brooklyn neighborhood that's since changed with the times, the Red Hook is one of the more memorable variations of the Manhattan.

The Devil's Backbone from Lolinda

Much as he loves the smoky flavor of peated scotch, Lane acknowledges that an entire cocktail made with it is pretty aggressive. To avoid having that smoke be all you can taste, Lane cuts the flavor with a bit of spicy rye.

Architects and Kings

Bartender Josh Relkin developed this recipe for Sable Kitchen & Bar in Chicago. It plays on the bitter side of coffee, adding herbal amaro and spicy bitters. Topped with whipped cream, it's a great way to wind down after dinner.

Orchard Boulevardier

The classic boulevardier is a favorite of ours: it's like a negroni, but with whiskey instead of gin. In this variation, the combination is served warm, stirred into a steaming saucepan of hot apple cider.

Midnight Stroll (Rye, Campari, and Ramazzotti Cocktail)

This cocktail starts with an ample pour of rye whiskey, layered with rich red Campari. It's finished with a mix of orange liqueur and cinnamon-y, cardamom-y Amaro Ramazzotti, for a drink that's a bit less fruity than a Boulevardier, with a kick of spice.

White Negroni

A riff on the classic crimson version, the White Negroni pairs gin with white (blanc) vermouth and uncolored bitter liqueur for a neutral-hued, but still-bracing, cocktail.

Diamondback

Let's start the weekend right--with a cocktail recipe from Paul Clarke (The Cocktail Chronicles). Need more than one? Hit up the archives. Cheers! [Flickr: Michael Dietsch] Sometimes, at this time of the year, you want a drink that's light and...