Grand Autumn

So a visit with family in Columbus gave me the opportunity to work with some different liquors and make a new cocktail. This is a very refreshing drink that is made even better with Canada Dry Cranberry Ginger Ale. It turned a Grand Autumn into a Merry Christmas!

2 oz. rye
1 oz. lime juice
1 oz. St. Germain
Ginger ale

Combine all ingredients except ginger ale in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a highball glass full of ice. Top with ginger ale.

Shanghai Cocktail

The Shanghai Cocktail is an odd pairing of Pernod and dark rum. It doesn't sound like it would be a good idea, but, as I am finding out, absinthe can be the ingredient that sets a drink apart from its familiar cousins. It makes sense then that this is named after an Asian city and not some Pacific or Caribbean island. The French liquor influence is both bitter and distinctive.

• 2 oz. dark rum
• 1/2 oz. Pernod
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• 1/4 oz. grenadine

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel is a French liqueur drink that really features the sweet orange flavor of Grand Marnier. It's pretty stiff as most classics are. Here's how to make it.

• 1 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
• 1 1/2 oz. gin
• 1/2 oz. dry vermouth
• dash of lemon juice
• lemon peel

Combine all ingredients except lemon peel and juice in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Squeeze lemon peel over the glass and drop it into the drink.

Roy Howard

This was a nice, sweet, and mildly alcoholic cocktail. It looks attractive, too, owing to the dashes of grenadine. A good afternoon drink for any season.

• 2-3 oz. Lillet blanc
• 1 oz. brandy
• 1 oz. orange juice
• several dashes of grenadine

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Linstead Cocktail

I am often surprised how well blended scotch can make amazing tropical flavors. I am also learning that while a lot of absinthe can overwhelm, a little serves like a bitters or perhaps even gives a tart crispness just like cherry liqueur. You could use it in a tiki in place of orgeat syrup and no one would be the wiser.

The Linstead Cocktail is a great anytime of the day drink with lots of fruit and frothiness, it feels really luxurious.

• 2 oz. scotch
• 1/4 tsp. Pernod
• 2 oz. pineapple juice
• 1/4 tsp. lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp. bar sugar

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Affinity

A very drinkable before-dinner cocktail. It seems primarily a vermouth drink with lots of wine flavor and a good scotch bite at the center. Here's what you need to make it.

• 1 1/2 oz blended scotch
• 1/2 oz. sweet vermouth
• 1/2 oz. dry vermouth

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Saratoga

It's a rich drink with sweet fruity flavors. I think I would be in favor of serving this in a highball glass rather than up. It has all the hallmarks of a tropical drink, albeit a rich one.

• 3 oz. brandy
• 1/2 tsp. Luxardo
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tbsp. pineapple juice

Combine all ingredients with cracked ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.