Improved Cocktail

1876 - Jerry Thomas

Anvil is a bar in Houston and they have a list of 100 cocktails
everyone should try before they die. This is my 50th drink on this
list.

Very good simple cocktail along the lines of an old fashioned.

2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 tsp simple syrup
1/2 tsp maraschino
1/8 tsp absinthe
2 oz spirits (I used cognac)
Stir with ice and strain into chilled glass.
Lemon rind twisted to express the oil.

Dementia Pugilistica

OK. Get ready. I made a sample batch last night with lime instead of
the blood oranges and it was totally good. I might stick with it. I
think it kept the sweetness of the St. Germaine at bay.

⅔ bottle Remy Martin VS cognac ( or other good brandy)
¼ bottle maraschino liqueur
¼ bottle St. Germain elderflower liqueur
3 bottles Duval-Leroy Rose Champagne (or other good dry Champagne)
10 dashes Angostura bitters
15 dashes peach bitters (if available)
2 blood oranges, sliced
Take a large metal bowl and fill with water.
Place bowl in freezer until frozen.
Lay bowl in a sink of hot water until ice can slide out.
Place huge ice dome into a punch bowl.
Pour all other ingredients into punch bowl.
Stir and serve.

Vieux Carré Cocktail

1 oz rye whiskey
1 oz Cognac (I used brandy)
1 oz sweet vermouth
1 bar spoons Bénédictine
2 dashes Angostura bitters
2 dashes Peychaud bitters
Shake in an iced cocktail shaker.
Strain into a rocks glass with ice.
Garnish with a lemon twist.


I was looking for a nice apertif that used sweet vermouth and stumbled across this recipe. I liked what the Bénédictine does for the drink. It's good for a Manhattan lover. I'll make this again.