The Union Bar's Banga #1

This playful concoction from Arthur Wynne at The Union Bar in Vancouver is juicy and thirst-quenching. You'll need a lidded glass jar for each cocktail.

Pegu Club

The Pegu Club is a remarkable and deceptive cocktail. Seemingly a simple mix of gin, lime juice, and orange curaçao, the drink has a flavor that is given robust depth by the addition of two styles of bitters. Rich, tart, and crisp at the same time, the Pegu Club has enamored countless cocktail geeks over the past decade--and while there are several recipes for this drink floating around, they're all variations on the same theme.

Pomegranate Bourbon Cocktail

Pomegranate molasses is a gem of an ingredient that often gets overlooked. This sweet and tart syrup adds the perfect pop of flavor to cocktails—especially whiskey-based ones.

Pomelo and Basil Cocktail

I like to pair pomelo with herbal flavors, especially basil. The slight sweetness of both the pomelo and basil work really well together, but they're both able to hold their own and bring depth to a cocktail

Brown-Butter Old Fashioned

The classic Old Fashioned cocktail gets an update with toasty, nutty browned butter, which adds richness while mellowing things out.

Bourbon Renewal Cocktail

This recipe comes from Jeffrey Morgenthaler of Portland's Clyde Common. Sweet crème de cassis mixes with oaky bourbon to produce a delicious take on the classic whiskey sour.

Old Fashioned Cocktail

The classic Old Fashioned cocktail features little more than whiskey, sugar, and bitters. Done right, it's a perfectly balanced, timeless crowd-pleaser.

Bamboo

I love well-made vermouth, and this is a good drink to showcase its potential. The Bamboo dates to at least the early 20th century, and unlike most cocktails you come across, it has a more modest payload, being based on equal parts dry vermouth and dry sherry (I like the bone-dry crispness of manzanilla in mine, though you could explore the range of dry sherries with this drink; an oloroso or amontillado could have interesting results).

Basin Street Blues

This cocktail, adapted from Domenica in New Orleans, is pretty low in alcohol, but not at all low in flavor. It reminds us of caramel and lemon drops, with an essential smoky addition from a few drops of Scotch.

King Cole

Pineapple and Fernet Branca in an Old Fashioned? Thought that might get your attention.