50/50 shots like the Ferrari and the M&M have been industry favorites for years. But as the beloved party-starters have grown more popular—even finding their way into cocktails as their own ingredient—the format has expanded as an easy canvas to riff on. It’s a simple template: Take an amaro, and pair it in equal parts with either another liqueur or a higher-proof spirit. Variations abound, whether you’re looking for an eye-opening hangover remedy, like the Hard Start (Fernet-Branca plus Branca Menta), or a buttery shot with a complexity that can read as a cocktail unto itself, like the Mezcaletti (mezcal plus Amaro Meletti). To get started, here are some of our favorite takes on 50/50.
