Spirit-Forward Cocktails

We’ve borrowed the “Spririt-Forward” terminology from Serious Eats writer Paul Clarke, who includes vermouth-based cocktails and bitter cocktails like the Martini, Negroni, and the Manhattan among this category.

We’ve also included classics that Clarke calls the “Ancestrals,” drinks like the Old Fashioned and the Fancy Free that harken back to the original recipe for a cocktail, calling for only a base spirit, a touch of sweetener, and bitters.

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Waterproof Watch spirit-forward cocktail by Sother Teague, with gin, amaro, Aperol, and allspice bitters
Waterproof Watch
Gin, Amaro, Sweet orange apéritif...


Precision Timepiece spirit-forward cocktail by Sother Teague with Jagermeister, Aperol, amaro, and allspice bitters
Precision Timepiece
Kräuterlikör, Amaro, Sweet orange apéritif...


Golden Dog cocktail by Matthew Piacentini, with scotch, Lillet Blanc, apricot brandy, Benedictine, and Angostura bitters
Golden Dog
Scotch, White wine apéritif, Apricot brandy...


Purity of the Turf cocktail by Matt Piacentini, with gin, dry vermouth, rhubarb syrup, and orange bitters
Purity of the Turf
Gin, Dry vermouth, Rhubarb syrup...


Beautiful cocktail with cognac and Grand Marnier
Beautiful
Cognac, Orange curaçao,


Monte Carlo cocktail featuring rye whiskey, Benedictine, angostura bitters, and a lemon twist
Monte Carlo
Rye whiskey, Sweet herbal liqueur, Aromatic bitters...


Rabo de Galo
Aged cachaça, Sweet vermouth, Artichoke amaro...


Sun Stealer cocktail with gin, sweet vermouth, and fernet
Sun Stealer
Gin, Sweet vermouth, Crème de cacao...


Hanky Panky
Gin, Sweet vermouth, Fernet...


Giostra d’Alcol
Red wine, Bitter orange apéritif, Honey syrup...


Christmas Goose cocktail with genever, sloe gin, Benedictine, and aromatic bitters
Christmas Goose
Genever, Sloe gin, Sweet herbal liqueur...


Berlioni cocktail with gin, artichoke amaro, and dry vermouth
Berlioni
Gin, Artichoke amaro, Dry vermouth...


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