Overview: Robb Report published a guide on November 7, 2026, featuring lead mixologist Jason O’Bryan and Jeremy Repanich. The article presents ten rye whiskey cocktails designed for the autumn season, highlighting recipes from Addison in California.
The Full Story
As the season deepens into fall, rye whiskey serves as the base spirit for comforting cocktails. Jason O’Bryan, now the lead mixologist at Michelin three-star Addison, has built an incredible library of drinks over the past six years. The publication features a list of the 10 best rye whiskey cocktails to make this fall, exploring the history and variations on core cocktail templates.
The Old Pal is highlighted as the first cocktail, described as a spicier, austere alternative to a Negroni using Campari. It replaces the plush fruit of sweet vermouth with herbal whispers of dry vermouth and gin with spicy rye whiskey. The Boulevardier features Bénédictine for warming fall spice, while the Brooklyn variation substitutes Amer Picon with Amaro Ramozzotti and orange bitters. Other entries include the Improved Whiskey Cocktail, which adds maraschino liqueur and absinthe to an Old Fashioned base.
The list continues with the Blinker, Friends Not Enemies, Vieux Carré, Fall Back, American Trilogy, and three variations of the Manhattan. The American Trilogy was invented in or around 2006 in New York by Richard Boccato and Michael McIlroy. The Manhattan section notes that specifics are everything, suggesting different ryes work with different vermouths.
Brand & Industry History
The cocktail industry has a documented history dating back to 1806, when the term was first defined as spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters. Jerry Thomas published the first drinks book in 1862 with recipes for 13 versions of cocktails, mostly enumerating different base spirits. By the 1876 edition, he added an appendix introducing Collins’, Fizzes, Daisies, and Improved Cocktails. Modern history includes the Fall Back cocktail created by legendary late bartender Sasha Petraske, and the American Trilogy which revolutionized split-based cocktails in 2006.
What This Means
This release serves as a seasonal guide for the heart of autumn when sunshine wanes and mercury falls. The drinks are intended to warm the drinker during this time. The Old Pal is described as feeling like growing up, representing an acquired taste that feels like picking up the check at dinner.
Consumer Takeaway
This article offers a comprehensive list of ten rye whiskey cocktails to make this fall. Recipes include specific measurements such as 1.5 oz rye whiskey for the Old Pal and 2 oz rye whiskey for the Brooklyn. The guide provides instructions on glassware, ice usage, and garnishes like lemon or grapefruit peel.
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