An aperitif based cocktail, this drink is the one to go to when you want to stay social and not graduate into the buzzed, too-happy fella by the end of your evening. This is a great drink to sip at a cocktail business meeting or when meeting your fiancée’s
parents. Guaranteed not to make you a boob by evening’s end. Drinks well with a tie on.

Here we go –

• 3 oz Sweet Vermouth
• 1 ½ oz Campari

Stir the two ingredients in a mixing glass or glass cocktail pitcher with ice. Serve up in a cocktail glass with an orange or lemon peel.

Yet another splendid reason to drink Applejack, the Whist is another one of those drinks that tastes from another time. You can use either Applejack or its wealthier brother Calvados. I actually prefer the cheaper AJ. I’m a seasonal drinker and enjoy this one more in the Autumn.

Here we go –

• 1 oz Applejack or Calvados
• ½ oz light or white Rum
• ½ oz Sweet Vermouth

Stir three ingredients with ice in a mixing glass or glass pitcher, strain into cocktail glass and watch the leaves fall.

(wanna fight about it?) – Talk about art imitating life, this noisier, less sophisticated cousin of The Manhattan certainly goes down well in a pinch and when you’re hankering a strong belt and are only kinda in the mood for a Martini. What can I say, I like it…so stick it in ya ear.

Here we go –

• 1 ½ oz of a good, dry gin. Plymouth is poyfect.
• ½ oz Dry Vermouth
• ½ oz Sweet Vermouth
• 2 tablespoons orange juice.

Shake above ingredients with cracked ice in a shaker ‘til freezing, strain into a martini or cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry.

Add an egg white into the mix and shake ‘til cold and frothy for a Bronx Oriental.

I know what you’re thinking, and I don’t blame you, but no, Mr. Booze has not been to any raves, discos or trendy, black-wearing bars knockin’ back sweet, tart drinks made for punks and the gals who love them. This cocktail comes straight out of a book almost 40 years old. Who knows, maybe this is the one that started the downfall but what can I say…she drinks well and there’s some serious booze in this one. Try it.

Here we go –

• 1 oz Light or White Rum
• 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
• 1 tsp. Apricot Brandy
• 2 dashes Grenadine
• 1 tsp. Lemon juice

Shake all the above with cracked ice in a shaker ‘til ice-cold, strain into a cocktail glass with an apple wedge as garnish.

 
Basically, a Scotch Manhattan, the Rob Roy is as classic as an argyle sweater on a grandfather. My dad will still shakily enjoy one on Thanksgiving, pre turkey.

Not everyone is a Bourbon drinker, no matter how hard I try…and the Rob Roy is a nice alternative for the Scotch drinker tired of a 12 year old glen-something, neat. Sometimes, pretentious college professors and lawyers want a cocktail too (just kidding).

Here we go – 

• 2 oz Scotch (the peatier the better)
• Half an oz of Sweet Vermouth
• Dash or two of Orange Bitters 

Shake with ice in a shaker, strain, ice-cold into a martini or cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.

• You can really dress a Rob Roy up by adding a tsp. of Drambuie and a tsp of the maraschino cherry juice.