We didn't have the Mandarine, so used Luxardo Albicocca Apricot liqueur. All the ingredients shined through and the balance of sweetness and sour/dry was perfect. Certainly a cocktail to make reposado sing!

Well I've just checked the 'Measures and measuring' section on here, and it says 8 dashes is jusy 3.5ml, and of course a barspoon is about 5ml, so maybe I overdosed the absinthe. Ah well, it was very nice nonetheless!

I'm really enjoying this. Absinthe can be a massive bully in the glass, so I was parsimonious with it - just a 5ml barspoon for two servings. But it plays really nicely in this - I'll certainly try a little more next time. And I used Noilly Prat without any problem at all (despite an earlier comment on here).

I enjoyed a lot of head-to-head testing on vermouths and Negronis. I find the Cocchi Storico much more complex and use it in most cocktails that expose the vermouth. OTOH, the Carpano is my choice for a Negroni (my notes):
Excellent bitter(sweet) with the Cocchi Storico, layered, orange glints and notes. Even better with the Carpano Antica Formula, which gives a more harmonious drink.

Yep, best to look online. It is based on (apparently) the recipe for the very first vermouth ever, with Giuseppe Carpano apparently being the inventor of vermouth as a commercial category of aromatized wines. It kind of tastes like a mix of a typical (if a bit rich) sweet red vermouth, with the vanilla and dried fruit aspects reported of Carpano Antica, but not as intense. I also had Cocchi Torino and they end up being very similar in terms of taste.

Hi John, the image which used to be there was VERY different to the current one. Please use this link from Web Archive to see what the picture used to be. A very rare and unusual label was on the website, which is why I was so curious.

很感谢您的回复

This variant I liked very much. Savoury, very well balanced, everything played its part. Celery and bianco married well. The fino and elderflower were just 5ml each, but punched above their weight to add interest. Bravo.

Surprisingly light and bright for an Old Fashioned riff. We added a dash of Angostura. A gentle and flavoursome late night cocktail. Lovely.

A sumptuous Margarita. Since the recipe was already long-ish, we decided to ride the tiger and add just 1.25ml chilli liqueur. No problem.

A lovely delicate Margarita. Bravo. Coming at it a second time, we couldn't resist adding just 2.5ml Cointreau, just to add a little depth. Which sort of works against the 'idea' of the cocktail but, to our taste, is complementary and not too intrusive.

:) very nice

One of the best cocktails I've had. Awesome!

Added 5ml more of lemon juice and had proper proportions. The Bourbon still feels ever so slightly invisible, but more balanced and more than deserving of its 4* rating.

Simple and lovely. Apple through and through. The gin really elevates it, an inspired addition compared to the previous version with just vodka.

What is this? An OLD MONK CRAFT COCKTAIL?! (sorry for the caps, I was genuinely stunned to see an Old Monk cocktail which is supposed to be good). I duly made it with Old Monk rum as a result and it is... good. Not great. Could veer into too much sweetness at times, with the bite of the vermouth Amaro just about giving some balance. The molasses, treacly quality definitely comes through, alongside the herbaceousness of the rye.

It's been on my list for several years. Now available from Difford's Shop
https://diffords.shop/products/luxardo-apricot-albicocca-liqueur

Lime juice overpowered the flavour of the lychee and ginger. Recommend only half the amount of lime juice.

And what a deserved spot it is. It is for sure my second favourite Margarita, after Christine Wiseman's! Citrusy, refreshing and has that hint of spice especially at the finish.

I didn't have Italicus/any other Rosolio, but I did make a mix of Triple Sec, Tatratea Citrus Tea liqueur (which has a little bit of bergamot vibes) and Limoncello. I should remake this with a Tequila Blanco. Too sweet with the Reposado I had. Not that it is bad, if anything, it is delicious nonetheless.

Did a further riff on the maple syrup suggestions and split the base with half peated scotch and half bourbon. It was absolutely delicious with just a little smokiness coming through. A new favourite.

Yummy!
I cut the orgeat in half and it was perfect for me 😁

This one benefits from a little wait, it shows better after breathing a bit in my opinion and makes for a pleasant sipper.

I felt it needed some bitter to balance the drink. I tried peach and it gave it better balance and a little more complex flavour. Obviously the sweetness of your coconut water brand will determine if it needs more balance. I think it would also work good with pineapple, lime, mango or banana bitters.