Hot Toddy

2 oz spirit (recommend: dark rum, Cognac, single malt Scotch [esp. if peaty], Irish whiskey, genever, rye, bourbon)
1 tsp demarara sugar
3/4 oz hot water

Stir in an earthenware mug.

Fizz

2 oz spirit
1 1/2 tsp simple syrup
1/2 oz lemon juice
soda water

Combine all but soda with ice and shake; strain into a tall glass; fill with soda water; drink "without hesitation."

Daisy (early 20th c.)

2 oz spirit
1/4 oz lime juice
1/4 oz lemon juice
1 tsp simple syrup
1 tsp grenadine
1 splash soda water

In a metal mug, combine all but soda with ice, and stir until mug is frosted. Top with soda water. Decorate with fresh fruit and slapped mint. Serve with straws.

Daisy (19th c.)

2 oz spirit
1 tsp simple syrup
1/2 oz lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp curacao
soda water

Shake all but soda; strain into a cocktail glass; fill with soda.

Improved cocktail

2 oz spirit
1 tsp maraschino liqueur
1 tsp syrup
1/2 tsp absinthe
2 dashes bitters

Stir; strain; cocktail glass or OF with rocks; orange or lemon twist.

Fancy cocktail

2 oz spirit
1/2 oz curacao
1 tsp syrup
2 dashes bitters

Stir; strain; cocktail glass; orange twist.

Sling

1 oz spirit

1 tsp sugar

Stir without ice, and sling.

Mint julep

Place 11 freshly picked mint leaves and 1 tablespoon of simple syrup in the bottom of a silver julep cup, and gently muddle to extract the oil from the mint leaves, taking care not to macerate the leaves.  Pour a small amount of Knob Creek (or other) bourbon into the cup, and swirl to dissolve the syrup.  Next, crush a few cups of ice, and discard the very small and very large pieces, leaving pieces approximately 1-2 cm in diameter.  Fill the julep cup with this ice, and pour in bourbon to the top (3-4 oz).  Taking care not to touch the frosted sides of the cup, agitate with a spoon to bring some syrup and mint to the top and to chill the mixture.  Garnish with a sprig of freshly picked mint.

For more information, see The Libation Bearers.

Old Fashioned

2 oz spirit
1 oz syrup
1-4 dashes bitters

Stir on ice.  Optionally garnish with a citrus twist & peel and/or a marasca cherry.

For more information, see The Libation Bearers.