This pretty purple-colored drink dates back to before the prohibition era but was never very well-known. The cocktail is a simple mix of gin with lavender liqueur (creme de violette)—the key ingredient for its color and aroma.      

The recipe: Gin, maraschino liqueur, creme de violette and lemon juice   

Get it at: Teens of Thailand, 76 Soi Nana (Charoenkrung), 081-443-3784. Open Tue-Sun 6pm-midnight

The Speakeasy, 24-25/F, Hotel Muse Bangkok, 55/555 Lang Suan Rd., 02-630-4000. Open daily 6pm-1am

 

This further development of the Manhattan switches from angostura bitters to use Benedictine D.O.M herbal liqueur—a perfect match for Scotch.  

The recipe: Scotch whiskey, sweet vermouth and Benedictine D.O.M    

Get it at: Track 17, The Commons, 355 Thonglor Soi 17, 02-101-4525. Open 6pm-midnight  

 

There’s an ongoing argument about what came first, the Negroni or the Boulevardier, but regardless of where you stand, these sister cocktails both date back to the 1920s. The Boulevardier is exactly the same as a Negroni only it uses whiskey instead of gin for a warmer, more grown-up taste. 

The recipe: Campari, sweet vermouth and bourbon or rye whiskey garnished with orange 

Get it at: Negroni Bar at Peppina, M/F, The Commons, 335 Thonglor Soi 17

Bricks & Bone, 2 Rama 9 Soi 41, 091-040-5174 

 

 

This drink was regarded as having brought about a cocktail renaissance when barman Joseph Santini introduced it onto the New Orleans cocktail scene in the 1850s. The brandy-based drink also kickstarted the trend for making cocktails look as good as they taste. 

The recipe: Brandy, Grand Marnier orange liqueur, lemon juice and bitter garnished with lemon peel 

Get it at: The Speakeasy, 24-25/F, Hotel Muse Bangkok, 55/555 Lang Suan Rd., 02-630-4000. Open daily 6pm-1am

 

 

One of the five classics each named after a New York borough, this one looks much like a Manhattan. Based on rye whiskey, it also includes vermouth and bitters as well as the addition of maraschino liqueur for sweeter complexity.   

The recipe: Rye whiskey, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, angostura bitters 

Get it at: Il Fumo (adapted), 1098/2 Rama 4 Rd., 02-286-8833. Open Mon-Sat 6pm-1am

 

A sharp, sweet and sour cocktail that many believe was the last creation of the famous Detroit Athletic Club before prohibition set in. 

The recipe: Gin, maraschino liqueur, green chartreuse and fresh lime juice   

Get it at: Escapade Burgers & Shakes, 112 Phra Athit Rd., 081-406-3773. Open Tue-Sun 4pm-midnight

 

Everyone knows the famous Manhattan classic cocktail (bourbon or rye whiskey with sweet vermouth and bitters), but not many know that it has a couple of siblings, like the Rob Roy and Bobby Burns. Rob Roy is basically a later invention that switches from American whiskey (some also said the original version used Canadian whiskey as it was the only thing available at that time) to Scotch whiskey.     

The recipe: Scotch whiskey, sweet vermouth and angostura bitters, garnished with cherry 

Get it at: Track 17, The Commons, 355 Thonglor Soi 17, 02-101-4525. Open 6pm-midnight

 

This drink is regarded as one of America’s earliest cocktails, invented in cocktail mecca New Orleans. The tough, gentlemanly character comes from rough bitters and a herbal absinthe aroma. 

The recipe: Absinthe, sugar cube, Peychaud’s bitters, angostura bitters, rye whiskey garnish with lemon peel

Get it at: Il Fumo (adapted), 1098/2 Rama 4 Rd., 02-286-8833. Open Mon-Sat 6pm-1am 

Vesper, 10/15 Convent Rd., 02-235-2777

 

 

This candy-sweet and sour cocktail is named in honor of the celebrated 20th Century Limited train ran between New York and Chicago from 1902 until 1967.   

The recipe: Gin, Kina Lillet, creme de cacao and fresh lemon juice 

Get it at: Track 17, The Commons, 355 Thonglor Soi 17, 02-101-4525. Open 6pm-midnight 

 

 

This cocktail was born at the Monteleone Hotel, New Orleans, in 1938 when head bartender Walter Bergeron mixed up a new rye and cognac-based drink with a real punch. 

The recipe: Rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, Peychaud’s bitters and Angostura bitters    

Get it at: UNCLE, 2/F, Lady Brett, 149 Sathorn Soi 12, 02-635-0406. Open Wed-Fri 6pm-midnight 

UNCLE X 72 Courtyard, 2/F, 72 Courtyard, 72 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-635-0406 

Bricks & Bone, 2 Rama 9 Soi 41, 091-040-5174