Moonriver #2 - Four Drinks I'm Drafting

This month in the Moonriver, I was given the opportunity to set up a sequence of drinks for an online game.  It was to celebrate my birthday, and thus I deemed it necessary to stage a test of four of my brews.  
My players have told me they're excellent, but who can trust THAT LOT nowadays?  A new test beckons.

What follows is a sequence of four drinks, all of which I have mixed and coined with portions and names.  If you want to try the recipes, go right ahead!  If not, maybe you'll be entertained by my strange walk down palette lane.

1) The Grandfather - Version 6

We kick things off with the most seasoned of the mixes.  This is one I've been testing out and mixing down since I began this endeavor long ago, so I've had some nice practice, and it shows.  Portions are done in parts, not oz, because I may have to make a lot of it at once, so that's not how I'm thinking.

THE MIX
1 part Drambuie
1 part Jack Honey
2 parts Fireball
2 splashes Amaretto
Fill in the rest with Dr. McGillicuddy's Root Beer

The Experience: The Jack and Drambuie creates an interesting smack in the face, fortified by the Cinnamon Whiskey, then smoothed out by the Amaretto and Root Beer.  It warms my throat and my body and my soul, so going back for more was easy.  I made the amount for 6 shots and none remained by the end.

2) Whimsical Kamikaze - Version 2

A Kamikaze is often a blast of Vodka and Lime or Lemon, and tends toward a sharper palette.  I *tried* to smooth it out a little.

THE MIX
3 oz (2 shots) - Vanilla Vodka
1.5 oz (1 shot) - Triple Sec
1 oz (2/3 shot) - Cranberry Liqueur
1.5 oz (1 shot) - Lime Juice

The Experience: Flavor blasted and not my favorite.  The citrus feel was achieved, but it needs something else to mellow out the effervescent lime and vodka.  Maybe some Ginger Ale?  [1 shot enjoyed, the rest ignored.]

3) Druidgrove - Version 1

This was born of a need to pursue the equivalent of a dark IPA flavor without beer (beer hurts me, so the simple solution is out).  What came out definitely needs some tweaking.

THE MIX
1 oz (2/3 shot) - Four Roses Whiskey
1.5 oz (1 shot) -  Oakheart Spiced Rum
3 oz (2 shots) - Lady Bligh Spiced Rum
5-7 dashes - Aromatic Bitters
Emergency Addition of more Dr. McG's Root Beer

The Experience: ...was harsh.  1 shot down and the burn of Four Roses is still inescapable.  I need to stop mixing with this whiskey; it has never gone well.  Maybe more Root Beer, maybe cut out the whiskey all together.  Still, first try.  I'm allowed a dud once in a while, and that just means more room for improvement! 

4) Forbidden Fruit - Version 1

A fruity red drink was called for, and I've been itching to make stronger use of my Wild Cherry and Blackberry Brandys.  The result needed a little adjustment during mixing from my original recipe.

THE MIX
3 oz. (2 shots) - Wild Cherry Brandy
3 oz. (2 shots) - Blackberry Brandy
1.5 oz (1 shot) - Raspberry Liqueur
2 oz (1 1/3 shot) - Pineapple Juice
Splash of Grenadine

The Experience: powerful fruit combo, yet smooth and sweet.  I think scaling back the Pineapple to less than a shot will help even things out, and after a few others tasted this one, we wondered if a soda could augment it somehow.  I'm open to a little Sprite or Coke to pull the sugars a different direction.  Maybe no pineapple all together if soda flattens it correctly?

So of the four, The Grandfather was the only one finished with demands for more.  The "Whimsy" needs a little more refinement, but we're close; I may be departing from the base of a Kamikaze and just embrace the journey ahead.  Druidgrove is seeking that earthy tone, I can feel it, but I have more to learn to achieve that palette without wrecking my throat on the way.  Forbidden was a lucky first try, and we're nearing the threshold of small changes to make it worthy.

Try these out if you like and let me know what you think.  Any ideas?  Experiments?  Suggestions?
We all drink differently, and I look forward to learning more.
See you at the table (responsibly).
-Adamus