I loathe bourbon. That would make a good cocktail with gin as its base, similar to my favorite, the Tuxedo No. 2
2 ounces Plymouth Gin
3/4 ounce Dolin Dry Vermouth
1/4 ounce Luxardo Maraschino
2 dashes Orange Bitters
absinthe rinse
Combine ingredients (except absinthe) in a chilled mixing glass and stir with ice for 15 seconds.
Rinse the inside of a chilled cocktail glass with absinthe and discard the excess.
Strain stirred ingredients into chilled coupe and serve. Garnish with a lemon twist. Luxardo Cherry garnish also works well.
You can get a two-pack of the cherries through Amazon for $34 with free shipping. As far as recipes go for the liqueur, this is a great summer cocktail:
2 oz Tanqueray gin
1/4 oz Luxardo Cherry liqueur
3/4 oz Rhubarb liqueur (Art in the Age)
Luxardo cherries to garnish
Art in the Age is based in PA, outside of Philly, and makes several eclectic liqueurs. I first had this in CA, but could get it in OH as well. Interesting contrast between the sweetness of the Lux vs. the rhubarb.
I bought some Toschi cherries this year from Amazon. Under $18 for a 600 g can (compared to Luxardos over $20 for 400 g). The comments had indicated that they are a bit sweet but that the cherries themselves are firmer than the Luxardo. I agree on both counts, and following the suggestion of a commenter I transferred to a jar and thinned the juice with a small pour of cognac to excellent results.
Here is my favorite and I am not a cocktail person.
Bourbon - rye is the classic but I love the special four roses barrel select bourbons here 2oz
Dry Vermouth - a good one 1 oz No Martini and Rossi Dolin will work!
Amaro - I like Montenegro. Awesome and can be sipped if you want as a digestif. Amer Picon is the classic. It is unfindable stuff. Any Amaro that is very citrus in character will work 1/4 oz
Luxardo Marachino 1/4 oz
Orange peel with a little flesh for aromatics.
Large ice in shaker
A version of the Brooklyn cocktail and VERY nice. This is my kind of cocktail. Thanks Kevin for the introduction.