Larchmont

One of the most highly sought-after books is The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, a volume first printed in 1948, written not by a bartender but by a New York lawyer named David Embury who was determined to establish a system of proper rules for mixing drinks. Most of the drinks he covered were ones that were already in regular rotation in New York bars. Here's one of his originals, the Larchmont.

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.

The Bronx

Let's be honest: The Bronx is unlikely to be anyone's favorite drink. But while it's not exactly bottled excitement, The Bronx is actually pretty good, and surprisingly refreshing. Be sure to use fresh-squeezed orange juice (and if you add a dash or two of Angostura bitters, you've got a somewhat tastier Income Tax Cocktail on your hands), and approach it with an open mind.

Cinnamon-Tamarind Margarita

This margarita is super tart and fresh, with the slightly earthy notes of tamarind and cinnamon coming through. Use a good 100% agave tequila, blanco or reposado. The spice of the tequila echoes beautifully though this cocktail, and a little Cointreau adds a hint of orangey sweetness.

Eeyore's Requiem

Eeyore's Requiem, invented by Toby Maloney of Chicago's Violet Hour, starts with Campari, then adds a dose of barrel-aged Fernet Branca, which is made with gentian, chamomile, bitter orange, myrrh, and saffron, among other things.

The McQueen

McCarthy affectionately refers to this one as the "Smoky Smoky," although by my count, you could tack on a few more iterations—smoky smoky smoky? Scotch and Fidencio mezcal blend with dark agave and orange and chocolate bitters, with a spritz of hyper-smoky Ardbeg 10-year, plus a mighty twist of flamed grapefruit.

Manhattan Cocktail

The stiff, smooth union of whiskey and vermouth is a classic of the cocktail canon.

Michael Neff's Gin-Applejack Punch

We asked Michael Neff of Ward III in Tribeca to design a cocktail that we could make in a big batch for our office cookie exchange party. The only ingredient we stipulated was applejack. But we didn't want typical fall flavors: no ginger or nutmeg, no cinnamon. Been there, done that.

Mango-Ginger Cocktail With Cilantro

The round sweetness of mango gets a kick from spicy ginger and tart lemon in this tequila cocktail. If you have it, use reposado tequila, which lends a warm oakiness to the drink, balanced here with a touch of bright, grassy cilantro.

Scorpion

This individually-sized Scorpion was adapted by Jeff Berry and Annene Kaye for Beachbum Berry's Grog Log based on an original drink by Trader Vic from the 1950s.