Improved Whiskey Cocktail
A spirit-forward rye whiskey cocktail with absinthe, maraschino liqueur, simple syrup, and bitters. It has no citrus juice or acidity, is sweet, and is strong at about 30% ABV.
6
Stir with ice and strain over one large cube into a chilled rocks glass
Improved Whiskey Cocktail
Making on the scale needs Web Bluetooth — use Chrome on desktop or Android. You can still Preview the steps.
Volume110 ml
Strength30% ABV
Alcohol33 ml (26 g)82 ml of vodka (40%)2.5 shots (of 30ml)
Sugar6.8 g (6.1%)1.5 sugar cubes
Aciditynone
SweetnessSweet
Jerry Thomas, “Bar-Tenders Guide” (1876)
Similar cocktails
Greenpoint
A rye whiskey cocktail with Punt e Mes, Angostura bitters, and Yellow Chartreuse. It is lightly tart and sweet, and fairly strong at about 27% ABV.
Punt e Mes and Yellow Chartreuse replace the maraschino and simple syrup, making it more herbal and bitter, while losing the absinthe rinse's anise note.
- Same: 2 oz rye and Angostura, stirred.
- Different: 1 oz Punt e Mes and a barspoon of Yellow Chartreuse instead of maraschino and simple syrup; 1 dash of Angostura; served up in a coupe with no rinse or twist.
Junior
A rye whiskey cocktail with lime juice, Benedictine, and Angostura bitters. It is tart, only lightly sweet, and moderate in strength at about 18% ABV.
Lime juice and Bénédictine instead of the maraschino and simple syrup make it tarter and honey-herbal, with less cherry sweetness and no absinthe anise aroma.
- Same: 2 oz rye and 2 dashes of Angostura.
- Different: Lime juice and .5 oz Bénédictine instead of maraschino and simple syrup; shaken and served up in a coupe with no rinse or twist.
Benton's Old-Fashioned
A bacon fat-infused bourbon cocktail with Angostura bitters, an orange twist, and maple syrup. It has no acidity and is sweet, and it is fairly strong at about 25% ABV.
Bacon-infused bourbon and maple make it richer and smokier, without the maraschino or anise.
- Same: 2 oz whiskey and 2 dashes of Angostura, stirred over a large cube in a rocks glass.
- Different: Bacon fat-infused bourbon instead of rye; maple syrup instead of maraschino and simple syrup; no absinthe rinse; an orange twist.
Little Bit Country
A bourbon-based cocktail with lemon juice, maple syrup, maraschino liqueur, jalapeño, and bitters. It is moderately tart and moderately sweet, with moderate strength at about 16% ABV.
Lemon and jalapeño make it tart and spicy, and lighter than the spirit-forward original.
- Same: 2 oz whiskey, Angostura and maraschino.
- Different: Bourbon instead of rye; muddled jalapeño, lemon juice, maple syrup and orange bitters; no absinthe rinse; shaken, served in a coupe with a flamed orange twist.
Reverend Palmer
A black tea-infused bourbon cocktail with Angostura bitters and lemon syrup. It has no acidity, is sweet, and is fairly strong at about 26% ABV.
Black tea and lemon syrup make it more tannic and lemony, without maraschino or anise.
- Same: 2 oz whiskey and 2 dashes of Angostura, stirred over a large cube in a rocks glass with a lemon twist.
- Different: Black tea-infused bourbon instead of rye; .5 oz lemon syrup instead of maraschino and simple syrup; no absinthe rinse.
Champs-Elysees
A Cognac cocktail with Green Chartreuse, lemon juice, and a little simple syrup. It is lightly tart and lightly sweet, with moderate strength at about 16% ABV.
Lemon and Green Chartreuse make it tart and herbal, and less spirit-forward.
- Same: 2 oz spirit with Angostura and simple syrup, with a lemon twist.
- Different: Cognac instead of rye; lemon juice and Green Chartreuse instead of maraschino and absinthe; shaken, served up in a coupe.
Improved Whiskey Cocktail