We all want to be the person with the strongest cocktail in the room, taking slow sips as we hold the glass like a true connoisseur. Enjoying bold, strong cocktails feels like an accomplishment, a mark of the truly cultured. Unfortunately, they take a lot of finesse to get right. Getting started on the path to becoming a cocktail aficionado can be difficult, especially if you are doing your own mixing.

Not to worry though—this year Jack Daniel’s has put together a list of cocktails that will bring you one step closer to being the most daring and satisfied drinker at the end of the night. They all share the high-end Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey but cater to different tastes, so you’ll be sure of finding one (or many) to enjoy. So give yourself an early present this holiday season and figure out which of these drinks will fit the best in your hand.

The Perfect Gentleman

Do you enjoy your cocktails with a strong presence of dry vermouth? Maybe you lean more toward a traditional Manhattan? Either way, the Perfect Gentleman lives up to it’s name, and with a little tweaking will end up exactly the way you want it. Feeling confused? Don’t worry! Simply put, the Perfect Gentleman is the perfect drink to figure out your tastes. The combination of whiskey, vermouth, and bitters is a base for a ton of cocktails; using this recipe is a great way to discover what you like so that you’ll be able to find the best cocktail to fit your tastes.

Ingredients:
2 Ounces of Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey
½ Ounce of Dry Vermouth
½ Ounce of Sweet Vermouth
Dash of Bitters

Method:
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled Manhattan glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry or lemon twist. For a dry version, delete the sweet vermouth. For a sweet version, delete the dry vermouth.

The French Gentleman

The French Gentleman is the closest thing to a light cocktail on this list. The cranberry juice does a lot to temper the strength of the Gentleman Jack, and this is a good option for a first foray into the wonderful world of after dinner drinks, or for anyone who likes the alcohol in their drinks to take a back seat. Be warned though—it’s still quite strong, even if the Chambord raspberry liqueur does it’s best to convince you that the French Gentleman is harmless. Admire the way it looks in the light, and sip slowly.

Ingredients:
1 ½ Ounces of Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey
½ Ounce of Chambord
1 ½ Ounces of Cranberry Juice
Red Raspberries

Method:
Shake ingredients with ice. Strain into a martini glass and serve up. Garnish with three red raspberries.

The GJ Birdie

The GJ Birdie is another good option for people who like sweeter drinks but are willing to take them with a little more bite. Served over ice and with peach undertones, this cocktail is a good mix of strong and reserved. The addition of club soda also goes a long way to making this cocktail approachable. Not that this should discourage seasoned drinkers—the sweetness and layered flavor palate in the GJ Birdie is delightful. Altogether, it’s a strong, complex, and (most importantly) fun way to end an evening.

Ingredients:
1 ½ Ounces of Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey
½ Ounce of Peach Liqueur
½ Ounce of Dry Vermouth
Splash of Club Soda

Method:
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a large rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with orange peel.

Gentleman’s Agreement

At the end of the night, what a cocktail needs to do is simple. It has to let all of the ingredients that comprise it shine, and be so well put together that the end result is a drink that deserves to be savored. The Gentleman’s Agreement is simple. With just three ingredients this cocktail is neither overcrowded nor boring. Similar to a traditional Manhattan but with it’s own spin on the classic drink, it’s a perfect example of how something relatively uncomplicated can be the most rewarding when made with the proper attention to detail. It definitely deserves to be relished late into the night.

Ingredients:
1 ½ Ounces of Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey
½ Ounce of Orange Liqueur
½ Ounce of Dry Vermouth

Method:
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a Manhattan glass. Garnish with orange peel.

Facebook // Twitter