Montmarte

Montmarte is the steep hilly area in Paris that's home to the Sacre Coeur basilica. It was also known as the low-priced housing area where famous painters and writers like Henri Toulouse Lautrec and Vincent Van Gogh used to live. Brothels were common there and the most famous was the Moulin Rouge (red windmill). This simple drink is fitting to this environment.

A note on curacao: white curacao is basically the same thing as triple sec. Both are bitter orange liqueurs. At one time curacaos bore the label "a triple sec curacao." When triple sec became a generic orange liqueur of varying quality, the label was omitted. Cointreau is the proprietary French triple sec and also bore that fact on the label. The triple sec I chose for this drink is Leroux, which is an American-made recipe.

• 2 oz. gin
• 1/2 oz. white curacao (Leroux triple sec used)
• 1/2 oz. sweet vermouth

Stir all ingredients with ice in a mixing glass until chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. 

Beach Bum

I really enjoyed making and drinking the Beach Bum, a Cosmo-like rum drink with a dash of grenadine. Triple sec and light rum are really tasty together, and the dominant flavors are the bitter orange and silky sweetness of Leroux triple sec on top of dry rum. The pink color looks like grapefruit juice but is achieved with just a few drops of grenadine.

• 2 oz. light rum
• 3/4 oz. triple sec
• 3/4 oz. lime juice
• dash of grenadine

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