To say that The Hubby enjoys concocting cocktails is an understatement. When dinner guests visit and aren’t quite sure what they’d like to imbibe, he fully embraces the challenge. 99.9% of the time they happily sip on.
Having visited distilleries like Makers Mark, Wyoming Whiskey, Jack Daniels, Heaven Hill…, The Hubby is pretty well-versed in bourbon and bourbon-based cocktails. (For a time, he and his Buddy B. posted YouTube videos comparing various distilleries. Find them here.) He’s determined the three bourbon-based cocktails below are ones you can’t go wrong with–Classic Old-Fashioned, Manhattan Midnight, and Whiskey Sour.
The Manhattan Midnight is of special note however. On a trip to the Big Easy, muddled in between riverboats, Jackson Square, the French Quarter’s Touchdown Jesus, and Bourbon Street’s poor-choices, we came across the Manhattan Midnight.
The exact establishment alludes me, as there are many to choose from in New Orleans. (The Hubby especially appreciated the wide offerings at the Bourbon House.) But the Manhattan Midnight cocktail has stayed with us.
A traditional Manhattan features shaken bourbon, sweet vermouth and bitters, garnished with a bright Maraschino cherry. What makes a Manhattan Midnight different are two distinct differences…Averna Amaro liqueur and Luxardo Cherries.
Averna Amaro is a rich-tasting Sicilian liqueur featuring full-flavors and a thicker mouth feel. Its orange, licorice and rosemary flavors pair well with bourbon’s caramel and vanilla notes. Luxardo Cherries replace the bright-red Maraschino cherries commonly found in kiddie Shirley Temple drinks and Manhattans. Luxardo cherries are maraschino cherries candied in their own liqueur. It’s a darker-red cherry suspended in a thick syrup with deep fruit flavor. If you can’t find Luxardo Cherries, opt for Stonewall Kitchen’s Bada Bing Cherry. They’re equally delicious!
Cheers! (And share responsibly.)
PrintClassic Old-Fashioned
The Hubby prefers a homemade simple syrup over sugar cubes in this drink. The result is a smooth libation rich with notes of caramel, spice and citrus.
- Yield: 1 Cocktail 1x
Ingredients
2 to 3-inch fresh orange peel*
Angostura Aromatic Bitters
1/2 oz. simple syrup**
2 oz. bourbon
Ice cubes
Instructions
In a cocktail shaker, combine orange peel, 2 dashes of angostura bitters, simple syrup and bourbon. Stir briefly. Add several ice cubes and stir again for 20 to 30 seconds. Strain over an old-fashioned glass containing several additional ice cubes. Twist the orange peel over and add to the glass. Serve.
Notes
*Use a vegetable peeler to remove the outer peel from an orange. Be care to not include any of the bitter white pith.
**To make, combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat and let cool. Use as needed. Stores covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Manhattan Midnight
Averna Amaro replaces the Sweet Vermouth in this traditional Manhattan drink. Upgrading the typically-used Maraschino cherry for a Luxardo cherry full of vanilla and spice notes makes this a refined adult cocktail.
- Yield: 1 Cocktail 1x
Ingredients
Instructions
In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 dashes of angostura bitters, Sweet Vermouth, and bourbon. Stir briefly. Add several ice cubes and stir again for 20 to 30 seconds. Strain over a manhattan or martini glass. Garnish with a Luxardo Cherry. Serve.
Notes
*Luxardo cherries are a thicker, darker Italian cherry with an almond, fruit-forward flavor. They are the maraschino cherry’s more refined elegant cousin Purchase them in beverage stores, online, or specialty food stores. If you cannot find Luxardo Cherries, substitute with Stonewall Kitchen’s Bada Bing Cherries.
Whiskey Sour
Who needs store-bought sour mix when you can make your own for a fraction of the cost! Switch out the bourbon for an Amaretto Sour cocktail.
- Yield: 1 Cocktail 1x
Ingredients
3/4 oz. lemon juice
1 oz. simple syrup*
2 oz. bourbon**
Ice cubes
Angostura Aromatic Bitters
Instructions
In a cocktail shaker, combine lemon juice, simple syrup and bourbon. Stir briefly. Add several ice cubes and stir again for 20 to 30 seconds. Strain over an old-fashioned glass containing several additional ice cubes. Garnish with a dash of angostura bitters. Serve.
Notes
*To make, combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat and let cool. Use as needed. Stores covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
**To make this an amaretto sour, substitute 2 oz. of amaretto for the bourbon.
IMNPB
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