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.

Agavoni

Developed by German bartender and drinks writer Bastian Heuser, the Agavoni replaces the Negroni's gin with the bright spark of a silver tequila. Accenting the Campari's citrus notes with a couple of dashes of orange bitters, the Agavoni breathes new life into the venerable classic. To me, it simply tastes like spring. Even if you have to turn up the heat and put on a sweater to ward off the arctic chill while retrieving the ingredients from the liquor cabinet, mix an Agavoni this weekend and re...

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.

Quill

This classic twist on a Negroni adds in some absinthe to bring great herbal and light anise flavor that lingers in the background.

Contessa

[Photo: Jessica Leibowitz] Mojitos and mint juleps are wonderful warm-weather drinks. But sometimes a late-spring or early-summer day requires a drink with a bit of an edge, a spark bright enough to match the waning light of a late sunset....

The Oaxaca Old Fashioned

The Oaxaca Old Fashioned takes one of the greatest drinks in the mixological canon and gives it a south-of-the-border spin with reposado tequila and mezcal. Rich, smoky and spicy, this is an exceptional adaptation of a venerable classic.

Plume

This light, refreshing twist on the Quill takes its cues from the Americano and Negroni Spagliato. A little absinthe is excellent with bubbly.

Darkside

This smooth sipper from Adam Bernbach of Proof in Washington, DC has undertones of cherry and anise.

Paloma Point (Mezcal Negroni With Grapefruit)

This refreshing drink has more guts than an Americano, more bold flavor than a Paloma, but the best traits of each.

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.