Well it's hump day. It's July, and it's hot. Furthermore, it's officially 4:30 here on the East Coast and that makes it time for a proper cocktail. The "Cocktail of the Week" today is the Ward Eight. I first discovered this in a column written by Eric Felten, the author of "How's your drink?: Cocktails, Culture, and the Art of Drinking Well".

The Ward Eight
In a shaker of ice, combine
2oz Rye whiskey
1/2 oz orange juice
1/2 oz lemon juice
1/2 oz grenadine

(Image from liqurious.com)

Shake, strain into a proper martini glass and garnish with a cherry! I promise you'll love it. You can substitute scotch or bourbon, but when you have a chance, try it with rye. Rye has an edgy, earthy quality that you won't find in either of the other. If you use bourbon, cut back on the grenadine, to balance the sweetness.

You can trust me.