Horton's Creek Cocktails OCTOBER 2026 · ROTATING CLUB
A historic granite stone coastal fortification overlooking misty Casco Bay at dusk, lit by warm amber lanterns.
43° 39' N · 70° 12' W // AUTUMN EDITION

The Coastal Garrison

Coastal botanicals, autumn orchard fruit, and a touch of Atlantic salinity.

Inspired by rugged New England island outposts, maritime fog, and historic stone fortifications, this evening's trio moves from a crisp afternoon aperitif to a bracing mid-evening sour, finishing with a rich, fireside nightcap.

COURSE I · APERITIF The Casco Bay Crossing Crisp · Botanical · Effervescent COURSE II · MID-EVENING SOUR The Granite Bastion Tart · Orchard-Spiced · Smoky COURSE III · FIRESIDE CLOSER The Parapet Nightcap Rich · Bittersweet · Woody
Bartender Spec Mode — Showing exact proportions, techniques & prep table.
BATCH SCALE:
The Casco Bay Crossing served in a tall Collins glass over ice spears with a fresh rosemary sprig and thin green apple wheel.
01 // APERITIF HIGHBALL
Collins glass over high-clarity ice spears
FIRST WATCH · AFTERNOON TO DUSK SHAKEN & TOPPED

The Casco Bay Crossing

A crisp, herbaceous highball that bridges the gap between summer greenery and autumn orchard fruit. The snap pea and rosemary profiles of the gin pair with dry cider, while a touch of elderflower and saline mimics a cool sea breeze.

PROFILE: Crisp Botanical Subtly Floral Effervescent

ELEMENTS IN THE GLASS

  • Bimini Gin
  • St-Germain Elderflower
  • Dry Artisanal Hard Cider
  • Fresh Lemon Juice
  • Rich Honey Syrup (2:1)
  • Sea Salt Saline
  • Garnish: Fresh Rosemary & Crisp Green Apple

INGREDIENTS & PROPORTIONS 1 SERVING

  • 1.5 oz Bimini Gin (or hop-and-citrus forward modern gin)
  • 0.5 oz St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
  • 0.5 oz Fresh lemon juice
  • 0.25 oz Rich honey syrup (2:1 honey to warm water)
  • 2 drops 20% saline solution (or a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt)
  • 2.5 oz Dry artisanal hard cider (chilled)
  • GARNISH Fresh rosemary sprig & a thin wheel of crisp green apple

METHOD

  1. Combine the gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, honey syrup, and saline solution in a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Shake briskly for 8 to 10 seconds until well chilled.
  3. Strain into an ice-filled Collins glass.
  4. Top gently with the chilled dry hard cider and give one brief, gentle lift with a barspoon to integrate.
  5. Clap the rosemary sprig between your palms to release the aromatics and tuck it beside the apple wheel.
The Granite Bastion served in a Double Old Fashioned glass over a single large clear ice block, topped with a dehydrated lime wheel and grated nutmeg.
02 // SMOKY-SWEET SOUR
Double Old Fashioned over a single large "granite" block
SECOND WATCH · MID-EVENING SHAKEN & LAYERED

The Granite Bastion

Named for the massive stone walls of turn-of-the-century coastal forts, this is a structured, smoky-sweet sour. It uses a split base of aged rum and reposado tequila, grounded by spiced pear and a delicate float of Islay peat that smells like ocean spray and campfire.

PROFILE: Tart Velvety Orchard-Spiced Lingering Smoke

ELEMENTS IN THE GLASS

  • Aged Column-Still Rum
  • Reposado Tequila
  • St. George Spiced Pear Liqueur
  • Laphroaig 10 Islay Scotch Float
  • Fresh Lime Juice
  • Dark Amber Maple Syrup
  • Angostura Bitters
  • Garnish: Dehydrated Lime & Fresh Nutmeg

INGREDIENTS & PROPORTIONS 1 SERVING

  • 1.25 oz Aged column-still rum (Flor de Caña 7 or Bacardi 8)
  • 0.75 oz Reposado tequila
  • 0.5 oz St. George Spiced Pear Liqueur
  • 0.75 oz Fresh lime juice
  • 0.25 oz Grade A dark amber maple syrup
  • 1 dash Angostura bitters
  • 0.25 oz Laphroaig 10 (or heavily peated Islay Scotch, reserved for floating)
  • GARNISH Dehydrated lime wheel & a grate of fresh nutmeg

METHOD

  1. Add the rum, tequila, pear liqueur, lime juice, maple syrup, and bitters to a shaker with ice.
  2. Shake hard for 12 seconds to achieve proper dilution and a tight froth.
  3. Strain over a large clear ice cube in a rocks glass.
  4. Slowly pour the peated Scotch over the back of a barspoon so it settles as an aromatic layer across the top.
  5. Float the dehydrated lime wheel and grate a light dusting of fresh nutmeg directly over the foam.
The Parapet Nightcap served in a chilled frosted Nick and Nora glass before a glowing stone hearth, garnished with a skewered Amarena cherry and orange peel.
03 // FIRESIDE NIGHTCAP
Chilled Nick and Nora or coupe glass
FINAL WATCH · FIRESIDE CLOSER STIRRED & SPIRIT-FORWARD

The Parapet Nightcap

A spirit-forward, stirred closer designed for late October evenings. Straight rye whiskey and bonded apple brandy form a sturdy backbone, while Cynar and sweet vermouth bring bittersweet herbal depth, accented by roasted walnut and espresso notes.

PROFILE: Rich Warming Bittersweet Woody

ELEMENTS IN THE GLASS

  • 100-Proof Straight Rye Whiskey
  • Laird's Bonded Apple Brandy
  • Cynar Artichoke Amaro
  • Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth
  • Nocino Green Walnut (or Espresso Liqueur)
  • Black Walnut Bitters
  • Garnish: Expressed Orange Peel & Amarena Cherry

INGREDIENTS & PROPORTIONS 1 SERVING

  • 1.25 oz High-rye bourbon or 100-proof straight rye whiskey
  • 0.75 oz Laird's Straight Apple Brandy (Bottled in Bond)
  • 0.5 oz Cynar (artichoke amaro)
  • 0.5 oz Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth
  • 1 barspoon (0.15 oz) Nocino (green walnut liqueur) (or Borghetti espresso liqueur)
  • 2 dashes Black walnut bitters
  • GARNISH Wide swath of orange peel & a skewered Amarena cherry

METHOD

  1. Combine all liquid ingredients in a mixing glass filled two-thirds of the way with cracked ice.
  2. Stir smoothly for 30 to 35 seconds until the glass is frosted and the texture becomes silky.
  3. Strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass.
  4. Express the oils from the orange peel generously over the surface of the drink, rub the peel along the rim and stem, then discard the peel and set the skewered cherry across the rim.

Garrison Prep & Build Summary

QUICK REFERENCE LEDGER
COCKTAIL BASE SPIRITS KEY MODIFIERS ACID / SWEETENER TECHNIQUE
The Casco Bay Crossing Gin Elderflower, Dry Cider, Saline Lemon / Honey Syrup Shaken & Topped
The Granite Bastion Aged Rum & Reposado Tequila Spiced Pear, Islay Scotch Float Lime / Maple Syrup Shaken & Layered
The Parapet Nightcap Rye Whiskey & Apple Brandy Cynar, Sweet Vermouth, Nocino None (Spirit-Forward) Stirred

The Coastal Garrison

Scan to open hortonscreekcocktails.com on your phone.

QR code for hortonscreekcocktails.com