DMW Dead Man Watching 2026

Make It Sloe

1 oz. dry gin
1 oz. Sloe gin
1/4 oz. rosso vermouth
1 dash each orange bitters and Angostura bitters

Stir with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry.

Engage

The Nuclear Wessel

2 oz. vodka
1/2 oz. blue curacao
3/4 oz. lime juice
Tonic water or seltzer

Shake vodka, blue curacao and lime juice with ice. Strain into a glass filled with ice. Top with tonic water or seltzer. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Don’t put anything in your ear except your elbow

The Authority Figure

2 oz. bourbon
1/2 oz. maple syrup
1/4 oz. lemon juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 dash orange bitters
1/4 oz. smokey Scotch
Shake bourbon, syrup, juice and bitters with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over an impressive ice cube. Pour the scotch over the top. Garnish with an orange peel and a sprig of rosemary.

Cool your jets

When Onions Cry

2 1/2 oz. gin
1/2 oz. dry vermouth
1/2 oz. cocktail onion brine
1 oz. simple syrup
Shake with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with cocktail onions.

Sleep tight, sucker

Consigliere

1 oz. gin
1 oz. Campari
1 oz. sweet vermouth

Stir with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange twist.

It insists upon itself

The Dino Sour

1 1/2 oz. dry gin
1 oz. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
1/2 oz. St. Germain
1/2 oz. lemon juice
3/4 oz. apple cider
1/2 oz. simple syrup

Shake with ice. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with green apple slices and a thyme sprig.

Maybe study puppies next time

Brewster

6 oz. chilled Belgian style wheat beer
1 oz. apricot brandy
1/2 oz. lemon juice
1/2 oz. St. Germain
2 dashes orange bitters

Fill a tall glass half with ice. Add everything except the beer. Stir gently. Pour over the beer and gently stir. Garnish with an orange wheel and a sprig of rosemary.

Be unconventional, maybe even a little weird

Dolly Would

2 oz. vodka
2 oz. unsweetened iced tea
1/4 oz. brine from Italian giardiniera

Shake with ice. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with olives.

Read a book

The Cheerleader

1 oz. pomegranate juice
1/2 oz. orange juice
3 oz. prosecco

Pour juices into a champagne flute. Top gently with prosecco. Garnish with pomegranate seeds.

Make a pyramid

Amnesia

1 oz. blended scotch
2/3 oz. smokey scotch
1/3 oz. dry vermouth
1/3 oz. Cherry liqueur or brandy
1 dashes each of cherry bitters and Angostura bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a cherry.

Have another for your evil twin

Funny At the Thyme

4 blackberries
2 oz. thyme infused simple syrup
1 oz. lemon juice
3 oz. rye
Muddle blackberries and simple syrup in a shaker. Add lemon juice and rye with ice and shake. Strain into 2 cocktail glasses over crushed ice. Garnish with a lemon wheel and thyme sprig.

Laugh, even if it seems problematic now

Dreaming of a 5-fer

2 oz. vodka
1 oz. Cointreau
3 oz. orange juice
Splash of Sprite

Stir first 3 ingredients over ice. Top with Sprite. Garnish with a burnt orange peel.

Keep hope alive

A Smash to the Grill

4 oz. gin
8 oz. Indian tonic water
1 lemon, sliced

Sear lemon slices on a hot grill until charred. Cool slightly. Fill 2 goblets with ice, 2 oz. gin and top with tonic water. Garnish with charred lemon slices and fresh thyme sprigs.

Name all your kids George

The Power Suit

2 oz. reposado tequila
1 oz. coffee liqueur
1 oz. espresso
.5 oz. simple syrup
Shake with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with coffee beans.

Look sharp

They Won’t Even Know They’re Listening To Jazz

1 oz. gin
.5 oz lemon juice
.5 oz. simple syrup
3 oz. sparkling wine
Shake gin, juice and simple syrup with ice. Strain into a Champagne flute. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Dance in 5

We’re Gonna Tell Them it’s Jazz Though

1 oz. Fernet-Branca
1 oz. cognac
.5 oz. simple syrup
4 dashes Angostura bitters
4 dashes orange bitters
Stir ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Strain into a salt rimmed old fashioned glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Scat! (the singing one)

Many Rivers to Cross

1.5 oz. white overproof rum
1.5 oz. pineapple juice
1.5 oz. orange juice
.5 oz. strawberry syrup
.25 oz. lime juice
Shake with ice. Strain into an ice filled collins glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge

Try

Unk, Funk ‘n the Youngs

2 oz. gin
1 oz. lemon juice
.5 oz. elderflower liqueur
2 oz. sparkling water
2 oz. prosecco
Stir together in a wine glass with ice.

Drop the mic, if that’s still a thing

Sticks and Stones

.5 oz. cinnamon or maple syrup
1.5 oz. bourbon
2-3 dashes bitters
1 orange peel
1 cinnamon stick
Hold one end of the cinnamon stick over a flame until it smokes. Place it on a dish and put a rocks glass on top to trap the smoke
Stir bourbon, syrup and bitters in another glass with ice.
Remove the cinnamon stick from the smoked glass. Add cold whiskey stones and strain in the cocktail. Garnish with orange peel and the cinnamon stick.

Try not to break any bones

Will it Go Round in Circles

Drinks for the whole gang that you can make 24 hours in advance
1.5 cups manzanilla sherry
1.5 cups Campari
1 bottle chilled dry sparking wine
Mix sherry and Campari in a large pitcher. Seal and refrigerate. Before serving, gently stir a cup of ice and the sparkling wine into the pitcher. Pour into ice filled glasses and garnish with orange slices.

Try not to get dizzy

General Hospi-Tale

1 oz. vodka
2 oz. white wine
.5 oz blue curacao
.5 oz. lemon juice
.5 oz. cranberry juice
Shake first 4 ingredients with ice and pour into a martini glass. Squeeze in a syringe full of cranberry juice.

Maybe pick a different hospital

Ziggy’s Duck is Out Again

2 oz. ouzo
.5 oz. lemon juice
.5 honey or simple syrup
3 oz seltzer or sparkling lemonade
Mint leaves
In a shaker muddle mint. Add ouzo, lemon juice and simple syrup and shake with ice. Strain into a tall glass with fresh ice. Top with seltzer. Garnish with mint.

Sheeeeeeeeeit

1st and 10

2 oz. Fireball Whiskey
1 oz. eggnog
Mix together and serve over ice or as a shot

Call an audible

Rustic Charm

1.5 oz. blackberry infused vodka
.75 oz. pomegranate liqueur
.75 oz. Cointreau
.5 oz. cranberry juice
Splash of lime juice

Shake with ice and strain into a mason jar. Garnish with fresh blackberries.

Don’t let them Duke boys get the best of you

Comic Genus

1 oz. mezcal
1 oz. green chartreuse
1 oz. Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
1 oz. lemon juice
Splash of absinthe
Rinse a chilled glass with absinthe. Shake other ingredients with ice and strain into the glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Enjoy the multiverse

Comic Genius

2 oz. golden rum
4.5 oz Fresca
.5 tbsp. lime juice

Stir with ice

Genuflect genuflect genuflect

Dude

2 oz. rye
1 oz. sweet vermouth
2 dashes bitters
Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry or lemon twist.

Flex

Scarymouche

2 oz. grated beets
2 inch piece of ginger, peeled
.5 cup cilantro
4 oz. pineapple, chopped
.5 cup lemon juice
.25 cup lime juice
.25 cup orange juice
3 tbsp. honey
.5 cup water
4 oz mezcal
Sparkling water
Mix everything except the mezcal and sparkling water in a blender until smooth. Strain if you like. Add mezcal and top with sparkling water.

Stay out of the basement

Day of the Jack Daniels

1 oz. Jack Daniels Old No. 7
1 oz. Jack Daniels Tennessee Apple
.75 oz. ginger liqueur
3 dashes bitters
Stir with ice. Garnish with fresh apple slices.

Our bodies, our livers

Wacky Hijinx

1 oz. whiskey
.5 oz. amaretto
.5 oz. sour mix
.5 oz. gingerbread syrup
Rim a coupe glass with cinnamon and sugar. Shake with ice and strain into the glass.

If everybody knows your name you might want to change things up

The Iceman Goeth

2 oz. vodka
1 oz. huckleberry syrup
1 oz. lime juice
Ginger beer
Shake vodka, syrup and lime juice with ice. Pour into an ice filled mug. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with mint leaves and lime wedges.

Be someone’s huckleberry

Mr. Miniseries

1 oz. sake
1 oz. melon liqueur
.5 oz. green chartreuse
.5 oz lemon juice
Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass.

Live life one episode at a time

Woody’s Crew

2 oz. tequila blanco
.5 oz. lavender syrup
1 oz. white grapefruit juice
1 egg white
Dry shake all ingredients vigorously until egg white is emulsified. Add ice and shake again until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a grapefruit twist.

Break the 4th wall

The Buck Stops Here

1.5 oz. gin
3 oz. ginger ale
2 dashes lemon juice
Mint leaves
Muddle mint in a glass. Add gin, lemon juice and ice and stir. Top with ginger ale.

Rock spandex for the next 400 years

Voices of Reason

1 oz. gin
1 oz. genepy or green chartreuse
1 oz. luxardo maraschino liqueur
1 oz. lime juice
Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass.

Enunciate

Dangerous Migrants

1 oz. gin
1 oz. campari
1 oz. sweet vermouth
Shake with ice and strain into a glass of fresh ice. Garnish with an orange twist.

Maybe skip the ice

Pickle and Roll

4.5 oz. vodka
1.5 oz. pickle juice
Shake with ice. Strain into 2 martini glasses. Garnish with a dill pickle spear.

Don’t dribble

Hulk Smash

2 oz. bourbon
.75 oz. simple syrup
3 lemon wedges
Mint leaves
Muddle lemon wedges in a shaker. Add bourbon, simple syrup and mint and shake with ice. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Whatever your thing is, smash it

Bob’s Yer Uncle

1.5 oz. sloe gin
1 oz. lemon juice
.75 oz. simple syrup
Club soda
Shake sloe gin and lemon juice with ice. Pour into a tall glass with ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with a wedge of lemon and a maraschino cherry.

Down the hatch

Doing Something About It

2 oz. gin
1 oz. lemon juice
2 tsp. simple syrup
.5 oz. creme de mure
Shake with gin, lemon juice and simple syrup with ice. Strain into a rocks glass with crushed ice. Slowly pour the creme de mure over the top. Garnish with a lemon wedge and a blackberry.

Step up

The Board of Directors

Drink a beer from Texas, preferably a 40 from North Dallas.

Always be closing

Hot Lips

1 oz. Fireball whiskey
1 oz. RumChata
Shake with ice. Serve in a shot glass rimmed with sugar and cinnamon.

Have it with a lousy cup of coffee

The Most Beautiful Woman in Puppet Land

2 oz. blood orange soda
1.5 oz. Cointreau L’Unique
.5 oz. lemon juice
2 oz. tonic water
Build in a glass of ice and stir gently. Garnish with an orange twist.

Get the attention you deserve

Artisinal

2 oz. brandy
1 oz. triple sec
.5 oz. maraschino cherry liqueur
.5 oz. lemon juice
2 oz. champagne
1 orange peel
Shake brandy, triple sec, liqueur and lemon juice with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Top with champagne. Squeeze orange peel over drink and char.

Use the negative space but don’t get yourself into one

The Idea Machine

.75 oz. cognac
.75 oz. lillet blanc
.75 oz. cointreau
.75 oz. lemon juice
Shake with ice. Strain into a martini glass

Have a draft on my desk by 11

Cult of Personality

1 cup apple cider
2 oz. dark rum or bourbon
A drizzle of honey
.5 oz lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh ginger
1 cinnamon stick
cloves, nutmeg, allspice
Simmer cider with spices and cinnamon stick for 15 minutes. Drizzle honey into a mug. Add liquor and pour hot cider over. Top with a squeeze of lemon.

Captivate your audience

Lyrical Libation

2 oz. J&B scotch
.75 oz. lemon juice
.5 oz. honey syrup
.25 oz. St. Elizabeth’s allspice dram
2 dashes orange bitters
Shake with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or orange twist.

Sing along

Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight

1 oz. vodka
Dash of black currant juice
Lemonade
Stir vodka and juice in a tall glass with ice. Top with lemonade.

Go to 11

Stonehenge

1.5 oz blanco tequila
.5 oz. lime juice
Topo Chico, chilled
Stir in a highball glass with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Do the Pee-Wee dance to Tequila

Diva Fever

2 dashes cranberry bitters
.5 oz simple syrup
.5 oz. orange liqueur
1.5 oz. grapefruit juice
1.5 oz. mezcal
Shake with ice. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lemon peel.

Croon

Gimme Some Money

1 oz. cognac
.25 oz. allspice dram
.5 oz. apple cider
.25 oz. orange juice
Shake well with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange peel.

Get down to Fascination Street

Big Bottom

1.5 oz. cognac
.75 oz. orange liqueur
.75 oz. lemon juice
.25 oz. orange juice
Shake with ice. Pour into a sugar rimmed coupe glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

Be a bad mama jama

Flower People

2 oz. gin
.5 oz. maraschino liqueur
.75 oz. lemon juice
.25 oz. creme de violette
edible violet for garnish
Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with edible violet.

Make love not war.

All the Way Home

1 oz. limoncello
3 oz. champagne
2 oz. sparkling water
Pour into a sugar rimmed glass. Garnish with rose petals or lavender sprigs.

Cry cry cry

Hell Hole

1 oz. reposado tequila
1 oz. coffee liqueur
.25 oz. grappa
1 oz. room temperature espresso
2 dashes molé biltters
Shake well with ice. Strain into a coupe glass.

Try not to get mascara in your eye

Cups and Cakes

2 oz. whipped cream vodka
1.5 oz. amaretto
1 oz. white chocolate liqueur
2 oz. half and half
Rim a martini glass with sugar or cake sprinkles. Shake ingredients with ice and strain into glass

Take it around the world. Everyone likes cake.