Gramercy Tavern's Expat

Sometimes on a cold fall evening all you want to drink is a bright, sunny cocktail to remind of warmer days recently passed. This Gramercy Tavern creation draws inspiration from both the classic Hemingway Daiquiri and Audrey Saunders' Old Cuban. It's at once tart and refreshing with a touch of richness from the golden rum.

Apple Brandy Old-Fashioned

An Old-Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail is a simple mixture of whiskey, sugar, bitters and a citrus peel. It is a sublimely simple and delicious preparation for a wide range of spirits besides just whiskey—rum, tequila, brandy—and a fine apple brandy is no exception. Showcasing the earthy flavor of fermented apples with just a bit of sugar and bitters is a perfect preparation to enjoy classic holiday flavors in a new way.

Mai Tai

The true Mai Tai is a vacation in a glass, bearing little resemblance to the sweet, murky rum drink you've likely tried before.

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.

Old Timber (Rye Cocktail With Fernet)

If you like Old Fashioneds, you'll enjoy this simple stirred cocktail, created by Gabe Cothes of San Francisco's Salt House. It's deeply woodsy, with added depth and aroma from fernet, an Italian amaro, and orangey triple sec.

The Ancient Mariner

In Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails, Ted Haigh shares this variation on Trader Vic's original Navy Grog.

Twelve Mile Limit

Rum, rye, and brandy are a triple threat in this boozy but balanced cocktail.

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.

DIY Spiced Rum

Many commercial spiced rums use the spices to cover up inferior rum. At home, you can create a more elegant and bold version, tailored to your taste.

Anejo Highball

Anejo Highball. [Flickr: teamperks] During the dark, dry years of Prohibition, thousands of thirsty Americans made it a point of vacationing in Cuba. Not only did the island nation offer an alluring Caribbean climate, but Havana was home to...