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.

Pink Lady

The Pink Lady is built on a foundation of gin, with lemon juice for tartness and egg white for body, along with a note of grenadine to both sweeten and color the drink. But the Pink Lady needs additional fortification, and that's where a mild dose of applejack comes in; this lends more depth and backbone to the drink, and makes it about as unassuming as the brick that file clerk is packing around in her purse.

The Pan American Clipper

Originally from Charles H. Baker's The Gentleman's Companion and adapted by Erik Adkins from Heaven's Dog in San Francisco for the new book, A Taste for Absinthe, the Pan American Clipper is rich with the flavors of apple brandy and pomegranate syrup. A perfect drink for an autumn weekend.

Pisco Punch

Described by Rudyard Kipling as "compounded of the shavings of cherub's wings, the glory of a tropical dawn, the red clouds of sunset and the fragments of lost epics by dead masters," Pisco Punch is a legendary drink from late 19th century San Francisco.

Pago Pago Cocktail

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! It's late July, and summer has now reached its cruising altitude. Your sunglasses have become as essential...

Painkiller

Yes, it's kinda fruity, and yes, you're venturing into umbrella-drink territory; but we're at the dawn of summer—it's okay to put on your flowered shirt and relax a little bit. A Painkiller can help you shake out whatever winter stiffness remains, and prepare you for the long, hot months ahead.

Pom Pomme

Pomegranates (the pom) and apples (the pomme) are the stars of this sparkling drink.

Knickerbocker

The Knickerbocker dates to at least the 1860s, when it made its print debut in the first known bartending manual, penned by Jerry Thomas. The recipe called for "Santa Cruz rum," or rum from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, along with lime juice and sweetener in the form of raspberry syrup and curacao, and garnished with berries in season.

Painkiller Cocktail

The Painkiller cocktail was invented at the Soggy Dollar Bar at White Bay on the island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. It's the ultimate tropical drink whether you're beachside, poolside, or inside.

The Rose

Rescued from a vintage bar menu by cocktail historian David Wondrich, the Rose enjoyed a brief flash of popularity at the Chatham Hotel in Paris in the 1920s. Good luck finding it since then, which is a shame; soft, floral, lightly sweet and with a titillating aroma from the cherry eau de vie, the Rose is an exercise in delicate decadence, a drink that, like the Widow's Kiss, can put the imbiber in a mindset from a completely different era.