Près du Quai

This is a great variation, but I find it's much nicer if you substitute the Jamaican rum for Rhum Barbancourt 5 star and replace the Rosso vermouth with Lillet blanc. The barbancourt falls closer to cognac in flavor so it reads a bit more like a vieux carre, and the Lillet blanc adds a needed touch of bright orange character to an otherwise slightly heavy drink. Somewhere between a vieux carre and an el presidente this way, and is even better imo with an absinthe spritz as garnish.

This cocktail sounded incredible so, not being a rum drinker, I went and bought a bottle of Meyer’s Dark Rum to make this one to spec. Perhaps it was that dark rum ‘funk’ I hear mentioned so often, but there was something a bit off putting for my palate with this cocktail. I’m not sure but it seemed a bit thin and watery on the palate and then finished with an odd aftertaste that I found unpleasant. Perhaps I over stirred it thereby diluting it too much? I stirred this one as I do all stirred ‘spirit forward’ cocktails. I may give it another try with a much shorter stir time.

Blasphemous I know, but I think I like this better than the Vieux Carré. It's both softer and warmer. I used Vya vermouth, which also really amped up the Christmas spice character. Lovely

Revisited this as realised I’d omitted the lemon zest last.time. Wow, love this even more now. The VC is a little harsh for me and I think it’s the rye, La Vina aside I think I’m not a fan of rye whiskey. This though is amazing. Really enjoying every sip.

Three ### (very few past ##) in my 2300+ bookmarked cocktail recipes. I'm not even a huge bourbon lover but love tasty/complex sippers that I'm not compelled to quaff too rapidly.

Well this is a little find, was searching on Benedictine as I had a hankering and this beaut popped up. Perfect sipper, very smooth and layered with flavour.

Agree with Caspian that this is much softer than a VC, likely thanks to bourbon subbing for rye. I found it more enjoyable when I stopped thinking of it as a VC riff. A complex, rich, boozy, enjoyable drink.

Monymusk Special Reserve, Willet PR, Cocchi di Torino.

Really nice take on the Vieux Carre. It's softer than the original but with warmer spices. I'll certainly make this again.

Very very VERY good! Myers's and Jack, Cocchi Storico. Angostura and Peychaud's. Plus the lemon wisps. I
couldn't set this down! ☆☆☆☆☆♡

First sip was off-putting, but it settled in soon enough. Did not have Benedictine (and this prompting me to restock), so I used a 1:1 split of Licor 43 and PF Dry Curacao, a combo which is way fruitier. That's possibly the 'off-flavor' here... But the Myers's and Four Roses went surprisingly well together... I'll be back.