Whiskey and Bourbon
Blood Orange Old Fashioned
More than Southern Comfort
My first hangover was caused by poor choices at a Halloween party during college. The drink of choice was Seven&Seven and for years afterwards I couldn’t even drink 7up never mind Seagrams Whiskey. In fact, it wasn’t until our dog died (in 2014) and a neighbor brought over a bottle of excellent bourbon that I even considered drinking bourbon or whiskey. That bottle of Blanton’s changed me forever - for sipping and never never ever in a cocktail. However, there are so many excellent choices for craft cocktails with other bourbon that even those with a vodka palate will be pleasantly surprised.
Vanilla Walnut Old Fashioned - A basic old fashioned is simply 2 oz of bourbon (High West is a good choice) poured over a large ice cube in a rocks glass, a bit of simple syrup or 1/2 teaspoon table sugar, 1 teaspoon water and a couple of dashes of angostura or orange bitters stirred gently to combine. A bit of orange rind or half slice finishes it off. An easy variation includes black walnut bitters and 1/2 oz of vanilla liqueur to replace the sugar, and skip the garnish or float a shelled walnut half on top of the cube. Tastes better and better as the ice melts.
Spiced Persimmon Old Fashioned - This recipe is more complicated and requires some cooking and prep time (see other post about creating syrups and purees) but it is an outstanding cocktail for a fall holiday party. Combine 2 oz of Marker’s Mark (or other inexpensive bourbon), 1 oz lemon juice, juice from one clementine or mandarin orange, 1 dash orange bitters, and 2 tablespoons spiced persimmon puree in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled coupe glass and top with ginger beer, garnish with a small cinnamon stick or clementine segment.
Bourbon Sour - Super easy! It’s basically the simple sour formula - 2 oz bourbon, 1 oz simple syrup and one oz lemon juice, shake with ice and serve over crushed ice in a rocks glass. Mix this one up by using muddled cherries and/or a fruity syrup (see other post for syrup ideas) and experiment with an egg white froth, if desired.
Cherry Bourbon Smash - Speaking of cherries… This bourbon smash takes full advantage of summer’s best fruit and a cherry liqueur circa 1818 from the Netherlands. Muddle a handful of pitted cherries in the shaker, add ice, 2 oz bourbon and 3/4 oz Cherry Heering liqueur. Shake well and strain into a highball or Collins glass filled with ice. Top with a splash of soda and garnish with another cherry. So refreshing!
Paper Plane - Definitely in my top 5 favorite cocktails of all time and very easy to make because it is equal proportions. Just 1 ounce each of bourbon, amaro nonino, aperol, and lemon juice. Shake well with plenty of ice and strain into a rocks glass with a large cube - or serve “up”. Garnish with lemon rind.
NOTE - Still not convinced? Try making any of the cocktails on this list with an oak barrel aged gin (like St. George Rye Reposado, Barr Hill Tom Cat, or Mother Earth’s) and gateway into the world of bourbon.