Satin's Whiskers and Alice Mine Cocktails

OK, so my resolution to post regularly 2015 got sidetracked.  Let's try this again:

Last week I tried two recipes from Internet Cocktail Database, "Satin's Whiskers" (which I wonder if it's a typo for "Satan's Whiskers") and "Alice Mine Cocktail".  The major common ingredient is Grand Marnier.

Both are mixed with ice in a cocktail glass and strained.  SW calls for 1 part each gin, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth, OJ, and 1/2 parts GM and orange bitters.  This wasn't bad, it wasn't overly orangey, though I was out of OJ and used pink grapefruit juice.  I'm not sure the sweet vermouth added much, it tends to overwhelm other flavors.

I wasn't crazy about the Alice Mine, it had a bitterness or some off-putting taste that didn't appeal to me.  It calls for 1 part GM, 3/4 part gin, 1/2 part dry vermouth, 1/4 part sweet vermouth, an regular bitters.  Just not my thing.

Boubonella and Skyscraper

No picture today, I drank them too fast.

The bourbonella came up when I hit Surprise Me at the Cocktail Database.  It's basically a perfect Manhattan:  1/2 bourbon, 1/4 French vermouth, 1/4 orange curacao, and a dash of grenadine.  Stir with ice and strain.

And it tasted like a Manhattan.  Not a bad quick drink, a little sweet, it would have benefited from a cherry or slice or orange.

A similar drink is the Skyscraper: dash of bitters, 1/8 lemon juice, 1/8 orange curacao, 1/8 grenadine, 3/8 dry gin (I had Bombay), and 1/4 French vermouth.  Shake with ice and strain.

This was lighter than the bourbonella and I liked it a little better because the lemon cut the sweetness.  No added fruit needed.