Income Tax Cocktail

The Income Tax is nothing more than a Bronx with bitters. But that's okay; the bitters add such a depth of flavor that the cocktail earns a new moniker.

Negroni

Crisp and bitter, the classic cocktail of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth is dependably delicious, and remarkably difficult to foul up.

The Brooklyn Cocktail

A spirited riff on the better-known Manhattan.

Man About Town

This cocktail from Gramercy Tavern in NYC is a take on a Boulevardier (which is like a Negroni, but with bourbon instead of gin). Here, however, spicy rye is the star, complemented by the bittersweet Sicilian amaro, Cynar.

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 Blood Orange Boulevardier: A Winter Campari Cocktail

Do you love Negronis in the summer? Try the Blood Orange Boulevardier! This Campari, bourbon, and sweet vermouth cocktail makes for a sophisticated winter sip.

Great Gatsby

This cocktail is light, bright, and easy. And, as Chef Frank Stitt says, it's "shockingly good—it makes you feel on top of the world, kind of like Gatsby."

Tradewinds Negroni (Angostura, Sweet Vermouth, and Cointreau Cocktail)

Justin Elliott of The Townsend in Austin created this spicy variation on the Negroni using equal parts sweet vermouth, Cointreau, and Angostura bitters. That's right: It's a lot of Angostura bitters.

Blood Orange Negroni from Bottega

This Negroni variation from Chef Frank Stitt appears on the menu at Bottega only in deep winter when blood oranges are in season. "It makes us reminisce about aperitif time in the gorgeous cafes and bars of Torino and Venice," says Stitt. Serve with a slice of orange and a bowl of green olives.

Manhattan Cocktail

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