First we'll take Manahattan, then we'll take ...Lafayette

The best Manhattan I have ever drank was in Death & Company in the East Village. In fact it was so good I had to have two more and well, it gets blurry after that. It's true that the drink tastes better on the island. I wonder if a Rob Roy is at its best in the highlands.

I'm a fan of simple cocktails with a few ingredient. For me the most important things are that the drink is cold and not too sweet.

Whiskey wise I like Wild Turkey 101, Old Grand-Dad and Old Overholt but none of these are easy to source in the UK. Waitrose and other stocks Bulleit which isn't bad. But for everyday drinking Jim Beam works.

My favourite vermouth is Carpano Antica. It's delicious when added at a much higher ratio that usual, maybe 1:2. But today I have a bottle of Dubonnet that needs to be drank so I'm making a Lafayette.

I've made my own brandied cherries and the Luxado one are excellent, but Opies cherries in kirch are a good, and more readily available, option. The glow in the dark maraschino variety are great on a tres leech cake but terrible in a drink.

6 parts Jim Beam
1 part Dubonnet
1 part dry vermouth
A dash or more of Angostura bitters

Stir with lots of ice until cold. Garnish with a cherry or some orange peel. I've also made it with 2 part Dubonnet and no vermouth for something a little sweeter.

Drink with good company or while enjoying a good novel.