There are a few classic cocktails that have inspired hundreds of other great cocktails. The Martini, Margarita, and Daiquiri are the obvious ones with countless of these new creations, and when it comes to whiskey, the Manhattan, Whiskey Sour, and Old-Fashioned have inspired almost as many drinks over the years. Since it is National Bourbon Heritage Month here are a few of those bourbon inspirations.

Photo Credit: © Shannon Graham

The Manhattan has a whiskey-vermouth base that lends to great potential in variation. ..  Bourbon Manhattanites:  Manhattan 101 (vermouth, ginger, mint, bitters), Creole Cocktail (sweet vermouth, Benedictine, maraschino), Blind Pilot (sweet vermouth, Galliano), Brown University (vermouth, orange bitters).

The Old-fashioned's muddled fruit and heavy bourbon inspires many drink... New Old-fashioneds: Old-fashioned 101 (apple cider, sage, saffron, amaretto), New Old-fashioned (peaches and blackberries), Warm Old-fashioned (hot and toast).

The Whiskey Sour is a simple mix of sweet and sour tastes... Whiskey Sour 101 (grapefruit, honey, egg), Apple Sour (orange liqueur, apple & lemon), Chapel Hill (orange liqueur, lemon).

More Bourbon Cocktails...

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I have quite the challenge for this month's cocktail contest. We are taking on the pumpkin. As the holiday's of autumn approach this is the most requested cocktail flavor I receive and you can see by my list of pumpkin cocktails, the list is pretty scarce. This is where all of you creative drink mixers come in... we're looking for great pumpkin cocktails to share in October and you can submit your original recipes here.

Pumpkin Divine

What can you do with such a unique flavor as pumpkin? Many things. It pairs well with obvious flavors like apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, and other "tastes of fall," but don't get stuck in that train of thought and think of anise, pear, cranberry, nut liqueurs, etc. There are also many ways to get the pumpkin in your cocktails. Think seeds, purees, butter, syrups, and pie spice, or one of the seasonal spirits like Modern Spirits Pumpkin Pie Vodka or Hiram Walker Pumpkin Spice Liqueur.

Have fun with this challenge and I cannot wait to see what you come up with.

Submit recipes to the Pumpkin Cocktail Contest...

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Labor Day weekend is a bittersweet occasion. It is the unofficial end to the sweet days of summer, yet for many Americans it is a long, three day weekend in which you are free to do as you please. Personally, I'm looking forward to a break from the heat waves of the last month, so autumn is welcome in my world. However, as we have one big party weekend left in the season, I wanted to share some libations to sweeten up the beach parties, camp outs, and barbecues.

Midori Berry Bliss

First of all, let's start with punches. Labor Day is filled with gatherings and parties and there is no better way to quench a crowd's thirst - besides a case of beer, but where's the creativity in that - than with a colorful bowl of punch. The Midori Berry Bliss is an excellent example of what you may want to look for this weekend. It is a fruity, bright green drink that is easy because it's a mix and serve punch, and there are no exotic ingredients - all can be found at any liquor or grocery store - but the combination of melon, vanilla, raspberry, and pineapple make it seem exotic. It also has that sparkling, tropical feel that is ideal for toasting away another great summer.

Other punch recommendations for this weekend include: Dutch Appel Sangria, Old Sydney-Town Punch, Red Stag Lemonade, and the classic Fish House Punch. For kid-friendly punches you cannot go wrong with a Sherbert Punch.

Second, we have some whiskey recommendations for Labor Day from Lance Mayhew because sometimes we just need a straight sipper to relax. From a couple of bottles of Scotch to a bourbon, a rye, and the new Black Diamond from Canadian Mist, this list is pretty impressive. Whiskey lovers should definitely check out Mayhew's weekend picks...

Have a happy and very safe Labor Day weekend, Cheers!

More Summer Cocktails...

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Photo Courtesy: © Shannon Graham

I just wanted to remind you that today (Tuesday the 31st) is the deadline for submitting your original bourbon cocktail to August's Cocktail Contest. I'll be shutting down the submissions early tomorrow morning so this is the last chance for all of the procrastinators who have a drink to show off. Remember, it has to have bourbon whiskey in it.

You can view the submissions and submit your own here...

Good luck!

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