Are you a Discerning Drinker?
Join thousands of like-minded professionals and cocktail enthusiasts, receive our weekly newsletters and see pages produced by our community for fellow Discerning Drinkers.
Recent discussions on Difford’s Guide
Purgatorio
A mezcal-influenced riff on a Ted Kilgore's punchy Purgatory, named "as a nod to the divine Dante."
Calvin Grant
29th March at 05:11
What a nice riff on a Purgatory. Complements to the Sedgleys. Will be making it this way going forward...♡
La Louisiane
A rye-based Sweet Manhattan enriched with herbal liqueur and bittered with Peychaud's and absinthe. Originally made with equal parts rye whiskey, Bénédictine...
29th March at 03:32
Had this again as an evening sipper. Used dry vermouth to cut down on the sweetness as we like our cocktails on the dry side. Perfect as always. Did add a spray of absinthe on the top of the cocktail as well as being in the cocktail
Marvin's Last Word
The distinctive notes of mastiha and Chartreuse shine in this Greek riff on the classic Last Word
29th March at 01:34
Really good Last Word variation. I used Plymouth gin and Luxardo Del Santo. The mastiha is definitely present, and contributes to the overall result without overwhelming.
De Beauvoir
Richly flavoured and lusciously bittersweet with rye whiskey, bitter porter and sour lemon juice balancing hazelnut liqueur and brown sugar29th March at 00:14
I, too, used amaretto - a local distillery produce, and though it a very nice cocktail. I was a tad surprised by it, but I have made it a few times now and it somehow works.
Pooh'tini
Grassy honey with spicy, slightly tannic, camomile finish28th March at 23:56
Made a variation using Kummel instead of Krupnik.
Enchanting!
We call it Making Out With A Manson Girl
Enchanting!
We call it Making Out With A Manson Girl
Luxardo Bitter Bianco
Bitter Bianco is based on a distilled infusion of bitter herbs, aromatic plants and citrus fruits in water and alcohol28th March at 23:05
I agree. Been using it a lot with nigroni riffs
Sherry Negroni
Choose your rum to suit your sherry, and this dry and bittersweet Sherry Negroni (or "Sheroni") will delight28th March at 22:17
Oh my gosh, this is a dream come true!
Myer's rum, Cynar and some random cream sherry that I got with my birthday discount from Total Wine.
SO GOOD!!!
Myer's rum, Cynar and some random cream sherry that I got with my birthday discount from Total Wine.
SO GOOD!!!
Iron Horse
A delicious riff on a Manhattan made special by the distinctive notes of ferro china28th March at 20:37
Surprisingly amazing cocktail! I wasn’t that enamoured with the ingredients list but everyone one of us at the cocktail party felt very energised by Iron Horse and had a great night. Delicious, full of iron, and well worth getting the special ingredients in!
The Horseshoe Sling
Like its creator, this is upfront and refreshingly different28th March at 18:16
Wow. That was different- but in a good way (the genius of gaz regan). Made the mistake of serving in a champagne flute - resulting in even more froth and bubbles! But however you serve it, this is a seriously good fun drink.
Fall into Spring Negroni
Old tom gin's botanical generosity with bittersweet, herbal and spring-like minty freshness, combine in this pre-dinner sharpener or post-dinner digestivo
28th March at 17:33
I didn’t have Carpano, so I added Dolin red vermouth with a dash of vanilla bitters.
Instead of Mentabranca, I added 5ml of a mix of Fernet Branco and white crème de Menthe.
It is surprisingly good, full of layers and interestingly complex.
It is to mention that it will probably go better ON THE ROCKS instead of the Coupe glass.
Instead of Mentabranca, I added 5ml of a mix of Fernet Branco and white crème de Menthe.
It is surprisingly good, full of layers and interestingly complex.
It is to mention that it will probably go better ON THE ROCKS instead of the Coupe glass.
Aperol Aperitivo
Aperol is a bittersweet low-alcohol aperitivo liqueur made of an infusion of herbs, citrus fruits and roots to a recipe that remains unchanged since it...28th March at 15:58
Lol
The Tartan
The bittersweet lovechild of the Rob Roy and Rusty Nail
28th March at 14:23
For the purposes of late night sipping it’s also possible to add a good splash eg. 7.5 ml Cherry Heering and 4-5 drops Bob chocolate bitters transforming this into a …. Chocolate tart 😉.
Flying Scotsman
Lightly sweetened Scotch with a touch of aromatic bitter spice: like a homemade whisky liqueur28th March at 13:25
I didn’t read the recipe properly and ended up with a delicately enriched Rob Roy: 45 ml JW Double black (seems a popular choice for this), 22.5 Cocchi storico. Ran out of sugar syrup only 2.5, topped up with 2.5 Drambuie. I believe any scotch lover would enjoy this! The touch of herbal honey came through beautifully. Will make properly next time 🥴😘😂
Cumbersome
Interesting and fresh as you like with a pleasant bitterness28th March at 12:33
Love this combination of sweet cucumber and bitter. 10 cm of cucumber seemed a bit much and it was. My small shaker tin was half full after shaking. The flavor was perfect though! I will half everything for a single serving next time
Pineapple Margarita
As advertised, a Margarita with pineapple fruitiness. If you have it, a splash of pineapple syrup helps balance while amplifying the pineapple flavour28th March at 12:24
Thanks Simon!
Singapore Sling
Beautifully balanced, fruity and complex with just enough gin to add a spirituous bite. We're indebted to Dale DeGroff for sharing this recipe, which he...28th March at 12:19
Done and sent!
Chocolate Orange Manhattan
Yes, it's a Manhattan with delicate hints of chocolate and orange. A cocktail that properly delivers on its name. If you're looking for a simpler recipe...28th March at 12:19
We rarely stray from our favoured Sweet Manhattan but this is a bit of a show-stopper. Bravo. In our community, we gather around a bonfire in our local park for a sausage sizzle and conviviality on the night of the winter solstice...looking forward to longer days. We might offer some of these around this coming June.
Country Life
I've tried white port, tawny port and ruby port in this vintage cocktail. Tawny works best, with white port a close second, especially if a sweeter style...
28th March at 07:56
Sorry! Now corrected.
Hawkeye Martini
The addition of white port and a dash of absinthe and salinity distinguish this Dry Martini28th March at 03:52
Oops my gin wasn't freezer chilled. Guess I'll have to make another correctly. This was however as Mr Sedgley says an excellent Martini. Certainly goes on the favorite list.
Range Life (Tequila Negroni)
This delicious Tequila Negroni is a great example of how the lightly vanilla notes of a reposado work better than a bianco tequila in many cocktails. (I...28th March at 03:15
Made it with Milagro Reposado; no Punt e Mes so used Alessio Rosso, which was great in this drink and works well with Difford's chocolate garnish suggestion. Squares of chocolate do not skewer well on toothpicks or cocktail swords and a square of chocolate at the bottom of a cocktail glass looks more like a mistake than a garnish so I did something I've done before (e.g., "Munich Negroni Western Style") and grated a light dusting of chocolate over the drink, which enhances the nose as well.
La Louisiane
A rye-based Sweet Manhattan enriched with herbal liqueur and bittered with Peychaud's and absinthe. Originally made with equal parts rye whiskey, Bénédictine...28th March at 03:13
Is it "pine like".? Never had it.
La Louisiane
A rye-based Sweet Manhattan enriched with herbal liqueur and bittered with Peychaud's and absinthe. Originally made with equal parts rye whiskey, Bénédictine...28th March at 03:12
Wow, that almost sounds like a completely different drink. :)
Interesting though....
Interesting though....
La Louisiane
A rye-based Sweet Manhattan enriched with herbal liqueur and bittered with Peychaud's and absinthe. Originally made with equal parts rye whiskey, Bénédictine...28th March at 03:08
That sounds fantastic. Next time for....
La Louisiane
A rye-based Sweet Manhattan enriched with herbal liqueur and bittered with Peychaud's and absinthe. Originally made with equal parts rye whiskey, Bénédictine...28th March at 03:02
I use a barspoon. It seems enough for my palate.