The Magnificent Seven: A Cocktail Family Tree

Words by Grant Shearon, Heaven Hill APAC Brand Ambassador

If you’ve ever wanted to level up your cocktail game, to understand what makes a great drink even greater, then it’s time to stop memorising and start mapping. Because behind every great cocktail is a classic structure—and once you know the roots, you’re free to riff and then reinvent to make it your own truly.

Welcome to the Magnificent Seven: a cocktail family tree built from two foundational templates and seven timeless styles. Think of it as a bartender’s shortcut to creativity—no flashcards required.

The Magnificent Seven

Each branch of the cocktail family has its own rhythm, structure, and soul. Master these, and you can improvise with confidence.

  1. The Old Fashioned – Bold and timeless. The original template: Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon  + Sugar + Water + Bitters.
  2. The Manhattan – Elegant and refined. A riff on the Old Fashioned: Elijah Craig Rye Whiskey + Sweet Vermouth + Bitters.
  3. The Boulevardier – The Manhattan’s renegade cousin, swapping gin for bourbon or rye:  Elijah Craig Rye Whiskey + Bitter Rosso + Sweet Vermouth
  4. The Julep – A Southern classic with a garden twist: Elijah Craig Small Bourbon or Rye Whiskey + Sugar + Mint.
  5. The Sour – Bright and balanced. The golden ratio of: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon + Citrus + Sweetener.
  6. The Daisy – A playful cousin of the Sour, layering in liqueur for added complexity and fruit-driven flair: Elijah Craig Rye Whiskey + Citrus + Sweetener + Liqueur
  7. The Highball – Crisp, casual, endlessly crushable: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon + Citrus + Soda (or your favourite mixer)

“These templates are like jazz chords,” says Grant Shearon, APAC Brand Ambassador at Heaven Hill Brands. “Once you know the structure, you can explore infinite variations—but it always comes back to balance, flavour, and intention.”

Showcasing the Classic & the Twist

To bring this philosophy to life, we’re spotlighting two cocktails—both rooted in tradition, yet with their own personality. One is an icon. The other, a modern reinvention.

The Old Fashioned The Quintessential Classic

There’s a reason this drink has endured for more than a century. It’s pure, powerful, and lets the spirit speak. With Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon as the foundation, you get a warm, rich backbone of spice, toffee, and oak—lifted by bitters and softened by sugar.

  • 60ml Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
  • 10ml simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water)
  • 2 dashes Fee Brothers Aromatic Bitters
  • Orange peel, to garnish

Stir all ingredients over ice until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Express orange oils over the top and drop the peel in. “This is where cocktail culture began,” says Grant. “The Old Fashioned is not just a drink—it’s a moment of respect to the spirit in the glass.”

The Revolver A Modern Australian Twist on the Manhattan

Where the Manhattan is polished and urbane, the Revolver is moody, rich, and unapologetically bold. Featuring Elijah Craig Rye, it delivers spice and structure—but softened by a distinctly Aussie edge: honey & wattle seed coffee liqueur and a dash of orange bitters.

  • 45ml Elijah Craig Rye Whiskey
  • 15ml Seven Seasons Coffee Liqueur with honey & wattleseed
  • 2 dashes Fee Brothers Orange Bitters
  • Orange twist, to garnish

Stir all ingredients over ice until chilled. Strain into a coupe or rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist—flamed if you’re feeling theatrical.

“The Revolver shows how Aussie bartenders are pushing boundaries,” says Grant. “It’s still recognisable to the Manhattan family—but with more local ingredients and flavour profile, it becomes something entirely unique.”

Why It Matters

Cocktail families give bartenders a shared language—but also a canvas for storytelling. Whether you’re slinging drinks on a Friday night or crafting a menu for spring, knowing your Sours from your Daisies means you’re not just mixing—you’re designing.

And with versatile, bartender-loved spirits like Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon and Rye, you’ve got the ideal base to honour the past while building the future.

  • Elijah Craig Small Batch: Rich, full-bodied Bourbon with notes of toasted oak, caramel, and baking spice.
  • Elijah Craig Rye Whisky: spicy, aromatic, and balanced—perfect for classic and contemporary cocktails alike.

So, what cocktail family calls to you first?

For more on Elijah Craig and Heaven Hill Brands, please reach out to Grant Shearon gshearon@heavenhill.com  or your local Amber Beverage representative.