The magic: Short’s Whiskey, Grand Marnier, Orange Bitters

What better drink to remind you that you live in Iowa than the Manhattan? This local spin on an old classic came as a random pick from the drink menu at Stella, sister restaurant to Short’s downtown, and it didn’t disappoint me.  Short’s Whiskey — a product of Cedar Ridge Distillery — tag-teams your taste buds with Grand Marnier for a brutal, vapory smackdown on the rocks.

The experience: A Short’s Manhattan fills your esophagus with hearty fumes. The first sip proved more refreshing than straight whiskey, though it did remind me of a whiskey and water. Short’s Whiskey on its own has a commanding taste, and it doesn’t hold back in this cocktail, which is great news. Because it’s a straight-liquor cocktail, drinking it quickly resulted in the carpet feeling great through my socks.

Advice: At $9, the prospect of buying this drink might seem frightening. The price makes it fit for Ebenezer Scrooge during his brief transition between penny-pincher and hyper-charitable do-gooder. It’s a touch expensive, but it’s a perfect way to feel like a yuppie without paying $3,000 to share a studio apartment overlooking the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

— by Adam Gromotka