The Aegon Cocktail

Not only another variation on the Valentino, but another cocktail whose name is a reference to George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series.

• 2 oz. gin
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• 1/2 oz. Stirring's blood orange bitters

Stir and strain. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Fire And Blood

Our variation on the Old Flame. Created for our bartending stint at the Brotherhood Without Banners LA WorldCon party in August 2006, and inspired by George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series.

• 1 oz. gin
• 1/2 oz. Cointreau
• 1/2 oz. sweet vermouth
• 1/2 oz. Campari
• 1 1/2 oz. blood orange juice

Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a flamed orange peel.

The Firefly

The first of our experiments with Aperol, and named in honor of the TV show, this cocktail is the color of the Scottish soda Irn Bru and is a fine choice for a summer cocktail.

• 2 oz. gin
• 1 oz. Aperol
• 1/2 oz. Cointreau

Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Before drinking, toast one person in the room. That person must respond by shouting, "To me!"

The Freelancer

The first of our variations on the Valentino. Inspired by a bad day at the magazine for Martha.

• 2 oz. gin
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• 1/2 oz. Cynar
• 1 dash Peychaud's bitters

Stir, strain, and enjoy while contemplating the mixed pleasures of pitching stories and working from home.

The Gentleman Bastard #1 (Locke Lamora)

The first of our entries into a cocktail contest based on Scott Lynch's stellar debut novel, The Lies of Locke Lamora. Essentially a variation on the Oriental cocktail

• 1 1/2 oz. cognac
• 3/4 oz. sweet vermouth
• 3/4 oz. Cointreau
• 1/2 oz. lime juice

Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

The Gentleman Bastard #2 (Jean Tannen)

Our second entry in the aforementioned The Lies of Locke Lamora cocktail contest. Largely a variation on the first one.

• 1 1/2 oz. cognac
• 3/4 oz. Grand Marnier
• 3/4 oz. Benedictine
• 1/2 oz. lime juice
• Grenadine to taste (Start with a couple dashes - this can make drinks too sweet if you're not careful.)

Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Park Place of Brooklyn

Named in honor of our former residence. Inspired by Dale DeGroff's Ritz of New York cocktail.

• 1 oz. cognac
• 1/2 oz. Cointreau
• 1/4 oz. lemon juice
• 1 dash Peychaud's bitters

Shake the ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Fill the glass with champagne and toast the beautiful borough of Brooklyn.

Prince of Dorne

Another cocktail inspired by George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, and based on the French 75.

• 1 oz. gin
• 1/2 oz. Lillet Blonde
• 1/2 oz. lemon juice
• 1 dash Peychaud's bitters

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Fill with champagne.

The Typographer

Our first cocktail invention, created in honor of our friend Neil Russo and known informally as the Bitter Art Director. Inspired by the Manhattan, the Brooklyn Social, and the Sazerac.

• 2 oz. rye
• 1 oz. Cointreau
• 1 dash orange bitters
• 1 dash Peychaud's bitters

Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass that has been rinsed out with Ricard (see directions for the Sazerac). Garnish with a twist of lemon.

The Van Pelt

The next of our Valentino variations. The title is inspired by the band of the same name, who put out a couple albums on Gern Blandsten records in the mid-90s.

• 2 oz. gin
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• 1/2 oz. Aperol

Stir and strain. Enjoy while listening to indie rock.