Cocktails for Father's Day

I've been invited back on AM Northwest to mix up some "drinks for a real man". Many fathers from earlier generations aren't looking for drinks whose ingredients include squash blossom cordials or seaweed tinctures. For many father's a well made Old-Fashioned is a reminder of a simpler time, so today we'll stick to the classics. 

Old Fashioned

2 oz. bourbon (or rye) whiskey

2 dashes bitters (Angostura) 

.25 oz rich simple syrup

Orange peel

Add bitters, simple syrup and orange peel to the glass. Gentlly muddle to release the orange oils. Add whiskey and stir, before adding the ice cubes and stirring for 15-30 seconds.  

Worldly Possessions

1.5 oz. Whiskey

.75 oz. Cocchi Torino Vermouth

.75 oz Cardamaro

2 Dash Bitters (Amargo Chuncho)

Add all ingredients to cocktail mixing glass filled with ice. Stir for 45-60 seconds. Strain into old-fashioned glass over large ice-cube. 

For something a bit simpler after Dad's fathers day meal, nothing beats sipping on a nice amaro. While popular in much of Europe, it hasn't been until recently that many of their best amari have made it stateside. Get a few bottles and give dad a hand and drink them together. A few of my favorites include:

Amaro Nonino, Amaro Ciociaro, Cardamaro, Nardini Amaro, Ramazzotti

Miss today's show? You can watch the video here. 

Champs Elysees

1.5 ounces Cognac

.5 oz Green Chartreuse

.25 oz lemon juice

1/8th oz simple syrup

2 dashes Angostura bitters

Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake for 30 seconds. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

Recipe from The New Old Bar, Steve McDonagh and Dan Smith. Some versions will call for Yellow Chartreuse. We recommend experimenting with both and seeing which you like more, but for us, Green Chartreuse takes the win. 

2 Pumpkin Cocktails for Halloween from two of NY's Finest Bartenders

Recipe by Jim Meehan of PDT

Great Pumpkin

2 ounces Pumpkin Ale (I chose Elysian "The Great Pumpkin")

1 ounce Lairds Apple Brandy

1 ounce Sazerac Rye Whiskey

1/2 ounce of Maple Syrup (Grade B)

1 Whole Egg

Nutmeg

Add ale, apple brandy, rye whiskey, maple syrup to a cocktail shaker and gently swirl the shaker for 30 seconds to decarbonate the beer. Add the egg and shake for 45-60 seconds without ice. Add ice and shake for 15-20 seconds. Double-strain into collins glass and garnish with grated nutmeg. 

Recipe by Jessica Gonzalez of Death & Co.

Vampire Blues

1.5 ounce Bourbon Whiskey (I used rye in the video, feel free to use your favorite whiskey)

.5 ounce East India Solera Sherry 

.5 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice

.5 ounce Simple Syrup

1 teaspoon Pumpkin Butter

2 dashes Angostura Bitters (I used Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters in the video)

Cinnamon Stick

Add all ingredients except cinnamon stick to mixing glass filled with ice. Shake for 15-30 seconds. Strain into Old Fashioned glass over large ice cube. Garnish with cinnamon stick. 

3 Cocktail Recipes for Variations of the Manhattan

KATU was nice enough to invite me back to their morning show to mix up a few more cocktails. This time around we are starting with the classic Manhattan, and then mixing two simple and delicious variations, a White Manhattan and a Black Manhattan. The beauty of the Manhattan is both it's simplicity and it's versitility. The base ingredients of the Manhattan are whiskey (traditionally rye), sweet vermouth, and bitters (typically Angostura). 

Classic Manhattan

2 ounces whisky (Maker's Mark 46) 

1 ounce Sweet Vermouth (Dolin)

2 dashes of Bitters (Angostura)

Add all ingredients to cocktail mixing glass filled with ice. Stir for 30-45 seconds. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with brandied cherry or orange zest (optional).

The White Manhattan is a fun variation swapping the aged whiskey out for moonshine (unaged whiskey) and Dolin's white, but sweet version of their vermouth, Dolin Blanc. 

White Manhattan

2 oz. White Whiskey (Corsair Artisan)

1 oz. Dolin Blanc

2 Dashes of Bitters (Bitter Truth Jerry Thomas Decanter Bitters)

 Add all ingredients to cocktail mixing glass filled with ice. Stir for 30-45 seconds. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with brandied cherry or orange zest (optional).

The Black Manhattan swaps out the sweet vermouth for a sweet herbal liqueur called Averna, which has a vanilla-like sweetness and warming finish that pairs perfectly with whiskey. 

Black Manhattan

2 oz. Whiskey (Maker's 46)

1 oz. Averna

2 Dashes of Bitters (Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters)

 Add all ingredients to cocktail mixing glass filled with ice. Stir for 30-45 seconds. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with brandied cherry or orange zest (optional).

What is your idea of the perfect Manahattan?

Check out my video from this morning's show!