Red Ant
From Thomas Waugh, Death & Co., NYC

• 1 1/2 oz. rye whiskey (Rittenhouse bonded; failing that, Wild Turkey 101)
• 1/2 oz. kirschwasser
• 1/2 oz. Cherry Heering
• 1 barspoon mezcal (Chichicapa if you got it)
• 2 dashes Bittermens Xocolatl Mole bitters
• –3 cherries skewered on a pick, as garnish. Sneer all you like, but it looks like an ant; besides, I’m still kind of a sucker for Toschi Amarena

Stir well with ice & strain into chilled coupe. Stick that cherry ant in there and shut up for a while about the damn cherries.

Excellent, excellent drink — but there’s an accidental variation on this drink that I also like quite a bit. See, I first heard about this drink from Avery Glasser, who with his wife Janet is the mastermind behind Bittermens Bitters. Somewhere in talking about this drink with Avery, there was a mixup in the ingredients, and for a couple of weeks I was sampling this lovely drink using the wrong recipe. Thomas Waugh set me right, and the recipe above is the correct version; but, the “mistake” version also kinda rocked, so I’ll pass that along as well. Keep in mind that this alternate doesn’t include mezcal, so the whole “Red Ant” idea is out the window, as is the rationale for including this drink in a mezcal post, but hey, it’s just liquor.

via The Cocktail Chronicles » 60/30, #9, 10 & 11 – Mezcal makes the rounds.

Kahiko Punch, a concoction of Steven Liles of Smuggler’s Cove, with rum, passionfruit nectar, Hawaiian lehua honey syrup, hibiscus liqueur and cinnamon syrup and Elemakule Tiki bitters, among other tropical notes (recipe here)

via Hawai’i-themed cocktail contest: Voters, nonprofit are the winners : Hawaii Insider.(SFGate.com)

Hemingway’s Nog

Next up was my favorite of the winter cocktails, the outstanding Hemingway’s Nog: Atlantico Rum, Licor 43, crème fraiche, andBittermens ‘Elemakule Tiki Cocktail Bitters, topped with freshly grated nutmeg. It’s a rich but lighter take on the traditional holiday favorite that goes down almost too easily. If Alex ever decides to sell it by the pitcher, he’d make a killing.

via A Drinkable Feast at Hemingway’s Lounge | Thirsty in LA.