Hiro Nakamura

The whiskey boom has been heard in Australia, and Japanese varieties in particular have been catching on fast, with many bottles reaching the country just last year. This drink from bartender Steve Crozier at one of Melbourne's most stylish hotel lobby bars, The Waiting Room, uses Hibiki 12-year whiskey with its strong fruit notes to make an intriguing manhattan. (It's named after a character from the TV show Heroes.)

MAKES 1 COCKTAIL

2 oz. Hibiki 12-year Japanese whiskey
½ oz. Vermut (Spanish sweet vermouth)
1 tsp. simple syrup
½ tsp. Cherry Heering
Angostura bitters
Orange twist, to garnish

Stir whiskey, vermouth, simple syrup, Cherry Heering, and 2 dashes Angostura bitters in an ice-filled shaker; strain into a rocks glass over 1 large ice cube. Garnish with an orange twist.