Martini

2 1/2 oz. Gin
1 1/2 tsp. Dry Vermouth
1 Olive

There is nothing teeny tiny about the Martini. This drink is straight alcohol with just enough vermouth to impart some added flavor. Not only is this the manliest of the men’s drinks, but also the classiest. James Bond is classy, gets a plethora of ladies, beats up on degenerate bad guys, and also drinks the martini. Hmm.

Manhattan

3/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth
2 1/2 oz. Rye whiskey
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 Maraschino cherry

I know what you’re thinking: “It has a cherry, so it’s a pansy drink,” and you couldn’t be further from the truth. Chew on this: The Manhattan is the favored drink of the Italian mafia, so before you call the guy in the suit a cherry-drinking cream puff, make sure he hasn’t just fitted someone with cement shoes.

The Original Sazerac

1 tsp. Sugar
1-1/2 oz. Rye whiskey
1 Dash Herbsaint, Pernod or Absinthe (to coat the glass)
2 dashes Peychaud bitters
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 Lemon peel twist

Straight from Bourbon Street in New Orleans, The Original Sazerac is no big easy. Made of rye whiskey and a liquor comparable to psychedelic cough syrup, only the bravest of people dare to sip on a Sazerac.

Irish Car Bomb

3/4 pint Guinness stout
1/2 shot Bailey’s Irish cream
1/2 shot Jameson Irish whiskey

The Irish are surely bringing it to the table here. Almost a pint of thick Guinness stout as well as a shot of whiskey and Bailey’s? Hell yes. This one needs to be buried down the hatch fast, though; otherwise, you’ll be chugging chunks of curdled cream.

Rusty Nail

1 1/2 oz. Scotch
1/2 oz. Drambuie

The Rusty Nail is a drink sure to put hair on your chest and a swagger in your step. The only way to kick this drink up another notch is to use Johnny Walker Black, which just might make it a shiny new nail.

Photography by Tom Liggett.