Ginger and Lime Cocktail

There are certain flavors that go together so well, they were meant to go together. Whiskey and ginger and ginger and lime. So knowing that those flavors compliment each other, I wanted to craft a cocktail around them. This is nothing cutting edge, much less original, but it is a simple cocktail designed to sip and enjoy. 

Ginger and Lime Cocktail

The Tools

• Old Fashioned Glass or Cocktail Glass
• Jigger
• Bar Spoon

The Ingredients

• 2 oz of Bourbon
• 1 tsp Lime Juice or Lime Wedge
• Ginger Ale or Ginger Beer
• Ice

The Method

Add the ice to the cocktail glass. I used a large square mold to get 2 inch cubes for mine. It just takes one. Add the lime juice, bourbon, I used Buffalo Trace, and ginger ale to the glass. The amount of ginger all will depend on three things, the amount of ice, the size of the glass, and personal taste. Stir to combine and enjoy.

That's it. A simple cocktail with a simple recipe and a few simple ingredients that comes together super quickly so you can sit down and enjoy it sooner. 

If I make this again, which I will, I might try to add a few dashes of bitters to the mix. This time, I used ginger ale, but also might try it with the ginger beer to give it more bite.

Slainte!

Weller Special Reserve

A while back, I was given a bottle of Weller Special Reserve. I used to keep a 5th of WSR on the shelf, so the half gallon found it's way in to the closet. For some reason I thought a bottle that size was a little ridiculous, comical even. But now, given our current situation, it seems perfect. I did an initial tasting and then finished off my glass while lying in bed finishing up Kitchen Confidential by the late great Anthony Bourdain. I think he would approve. It's been a while since I shared any tasting notes, so I wanted to share my thoughts on this easy sipping whiskey.

I discovered that Weller Special Reserve goes really well with dark chocolate peanut butter cups.

About Weller Special Reserve

• Weller Special Reserve is a Wheated Bourbon, meaning the mash bill is a blend of corn, malted barley, and wheat in place of the usual rye.
• 45% ABV
• Distilled and bottled by Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky

From the Bottle

W. L. Weller was born in Kentucky in the year
1825. After serving with the Louisville Brigade in the 1840s, Weller returned to Louisville to open his wholesale liquor business. He is reported to have used the slogan "Honest Whiskey at an Honest Price." His wheated recipe bourbon had a softer, smoother taste that became very popular. Pappy Van Winkle eventually merged Weller's namesake company with the A. PH. Stitzel Distillery to form the Stitzel-Weller Distillery. This delicate bourbon with hints of caramel and honey honors one of America's first whiskey pioneers. 

Tasting Notes

Appearance

• Weller Special Reserve has an amber or caramel color too it

Nose

• On the nose, there are sweet notes of vanilla and spice and some notes of ethanol as well

 Taste

• Much like the nose, there were sweet notes of vanilla, but also some caramel and honey. There were some spicy notes as well

Finish

• Weller Special Reserve has a long smooth finish that hangs around for a few minutes. Up front there notes spice that gave way to some sweet vanilla on the back. The vanilla gave way to some more spice just on the finish.

Cherry Old Fashioned

Cherry Old Fashioned

Everyone loves a good Old Fashioned Cocktail. And since the dawning of the age of Mad Men, the drink has been seen everywhere. Considering the flavors and ingredients in an Old Fashioned, I wanted to play around with the flavors and create a different version. The first one I came up with and liked, was the Cherry Old Fashioned.

The Recipe:

The Tools:

• Jigger
• Bar Spoon
• Muddler
• Old Fashioned or Cocktail Glass

The Ingredients:

• 2 ounces bourbon (I use Buffalo Trace)
• 1/2 ounce Cherry Liqueur
• 1 Teaspoon Simple Syrup
• 3 to 4 Maraschino Cherries
• 1 Teaspoon of the Maraschino Cherry Juice
• Ice Sphere
• 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
• 2 Dashes Orange Bitters

The Method:

Cherry Old Fashioned Ingredients

In the Old Fashioned or cocktail glass, add the simple syrup, Angostura and orange bitters, Maraschino cherries, and Maraschino cherry juice. Using the muddler, mash the cherries to release the juices from the cherries and combine with the bitters. Add in the ice sphere. Add in 2 ounces of bourbon and 1/2 ounce of cherry liqueur. Stir to combine. Sit back and sip and enjoy!

I didn't use an orange twist in this recipe. That was intentional. The orange bitters have enough orange flavor to keep it true to the original cocktail recipe, while the addition of the cherry liqueur brings out the cherry flavor that was already there and compliments the Angostura bitters perfectly.

Slainte!

Old Fashioned

Old Fashioned Cocktail

After the simple Whiskey and Coke, I think it's safe to say that the first true whiskey cocktail everyone is introduced to is The Old Fashioned. The flavors of this classic cocktail are so smooth, they are approachable to just about anyone! The sweet from the simple syrup and the spice from the bitters complement each other perfectly. It's customize-able too! Add a little more simple syrup or a few more cherries and it's your perfect cocktail. This is my recipe!


The Recipe:

The Tools:

• Old-Fashioned Glass
• Ice Sphere
• Jigger
• Muddler
• Jigger

The Ingredients:

• 2 Ounces Bourbon
• 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
• 2 Dashes Orange Bitters
• 1 Teaspoon Simple Syrup
• 2 Marraschino Cherries
• Orange Twist

The Method:

Building a delicious cocktail is something of an art form. The right ingredients have to go together in the right order. Otherwise, the cocktail will be good, but not great. That is the case with an Old Fashioned. You have to build the proper base to set up the rest of the cocktail.

Ingredients for an Old Fashioned Cocktail

To start, add your simple syrup, marraschino cherries, and both types of bitters. Using the muddler, muddle cherries by lightly pressing against the bottom of the glass. Once the cherries are muddled, add the ice. For the ice, I prefer to use one large piece of ice, like a sphere or large cube.

Using the small side of the jigger, pour 2  ounce shots of bourbon over the ice. For this recipe, I'm using Buffalo Trace. Add the orange twist. Using the bar spoon, stir to combine.