Happy New Year’s Eve! To welcome in 2011 it’s important for the design minded to tip up a proper drink. In preparation for tonight’s celebrating we’re posting this outstanding image of Assemblies & Details of Mixed Drinks –done up all construction document style for your viewing pleasure (click here for the larger version). Huge props to Erik Bredberg of Becker Architects for getting this diagram in our hands.

We take our drinks pretty dang seriously here at BUILD and we’re finding that Seattle is a good place to put your seriousness when it comes to the proper libation. With the likes of Murray Stenson and David Nelson running around town, the mixology bar is being raised to deliciously new heights in the Pacific Northwest. The bad news; selecting the right cocktail can be overwhelming. The good news; we’re here to help. To assist with the decision making we’ve rounded up 10 of our favorite drinks that will please the taste buds, keep you well composed, and save you from drink froofy-ness.

The Classic Martini
2 ½ oz Gin (we’re big fans of Hayman’s Old Tom Gin and Martin Miller’s Gin)
¼ oz Dry vermouth (try Dolin vermouth sometime)
Twist lemon peel or olive

Manhattan
2 oz Rye whiskey (We like Basil Hayden)
1 oz Sweet vermouth
1 Dash Angostura bitters
A real cherry (not one of those fake neon-red nuclear cherries)

St. Germain Gin & Tonic
1 ½ Parts Gin,
1 Part St. Germain elderflower liqueur,
3 Parts tonic water,
Lime wedge

Old Fashioned
2 oz Rye or bourbon
½ Cube sugar
1 Dash Angustura bitter
1 tsp Water
Twist lemon peel
Cherry (refer to Manhattan)
1 Slice lemon, lime or orange

Sidecar
2 oz Brandy
1 oz Cointreau or triple sec
½ oz Lemon juice
Twist of lemon peel

Negroni
1 ½ oz Gin
1 ½ oz Campari
1 ½ oz Sweet Vermouth
Twist of lemon peel

Campari and Soda on the rocks
6 oz Campari
6 oz Soda Water
Orange slice

Sad Flower (check out Spur for a good one)
Bombay Sapphire Gin
St. Germain elderflower liqueur,
Chartreuse
Creme de violette

Ransom Old Tom Gin on the rocks

Pappy van Winkle on the rocks

And we can’t think of a more attractive way to serve these concoctions up than in an Iittala Aarne series glass designed by Göran Hongell in 1954.

It’s been a great year of blogging and we’re looking forward to the next…

Cheers from Team BUILD.