Frisco

The Frisco is the product of a long evolutionary process in 20th century mixology. Originating no later than the early 1930s--that's the earliest reference I've found for it, anyway--the drink crawled out of the cocktail equivalent of the primordial soup as a short, sharp burst of rye whiskey with a slight touch of the French herbal liqueur Benedictine and a twist of lemon peel for excitement.

Frisco Sour

A complex rye cocktail in which Benedictine plays a small but delicious role, the Frisco Sour marries the spiciness of rye to the sweet herbal qualities of Benedictine. But because Benedictine's sweetness can so easily overpower other ingredients, it's held in check here by lemon juice. In this dry, bracing drink, rye takes the forefront.

Buena Vista Fizz

You wouldn't think that citrus and coffee would go together, but we absolutely love this cocktail from Tradition in San Francisco, which brings together Jameson and chicory-infused rye whiskey.

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.

Architects and Kings

Bartender Josh Relkin developed this recipe for Sable Kitchen & Bar in Chicago. It plays on the bitter side of coffee, adding herbal amaro and spicy bitters. Topped with whipped cream, it's a great way to wind down after dinner.

New York Shrub

To make simple syrup, combine 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Cool before using. Simple syrup will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Southern Baptist

Sother Teague of Amor y Amargo in NYC shared this rye cocktail with us, and it's a winner, spicy with lots of fresh ginger and bright from a bunch of fresh lime.

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 Revolver

Many bourbon lovers occasionally spike a cup of coffee with a slug from their favorite bottle; the Revolver is the same flavor principle in reverse, putting the bold bite of the whiskey up front and rounding out the flavor with coffee and the brightness of orange peel.

Upgraded Lynchburg Lemonade

The Lynchburg Lemonade was the center of a legal battle between a restaurant owner and the Jack Daniels Distillery. While that drink was much ado about nothing, this version is worth fighting over.