Bourbon Cocktails: Beyond the Tried and True

As you have probably noticed, over the past two months I have been talking a lot about bourbon. So far I have written about the current bourbon craze—what started it, and the effects of the increased demand for bourbon. In the most recent article I addressed several traditional bourbon cocktails, including the Mint Julep, the Old Fashioned, and the Manhattan. This month I will explore several craft cocktails that are a twist on some of the old favorites. In a craft cocktail you will see the use of fresh herbs, fresh fruit, and fresh vegetables.

Peach Cilantro Julep

This twist on the Kentucky Derby staple, the mint julep, uses fresh peaches, ginger liqueur, and fresh cilantro to make something truly interesting.

2 ounces of Woodford Reserve bourbon

½ ounce Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur

1 tsp of Stirrings simple syrup

½ of a very ripe peach

sprig of cilantro

In a cocktail shaker, combine half a peach, simple syrup, cilantro, and ginger liqueur. Muddle gently, then two ounces of bourbon and fill with ice. Shake well to blend and chill, and strain into an ice-filled glass. Garnish with peach slice and sprig of cilantro.

 

Bourbon Pear Punch

1 ½ ounces 1792 bourbon

dash of Stirrings simple syrup

1 ½ ounces St George Spiced Pear Liqueur

dash of Fee Bros. grapefruit bitters

¼ of ripe Bartlett or Bosc pear, sliced paper thin

In cocktail shaker, add pear slices and dash of simple syrup, and muddle gently. Add bourbon and pear liqueur. Shake gently a few times to blend ingredients and strain into ice-filled glass. Top with dash of bitters and garnish with Luxardo cherry and pear slice.

 

The New Fashioned

2 ounces of Knob Creek bourbon

splash of club soda

2 dashes Fee Bros. orange bitters

2 lemon slices

sprig of thyme

four blackberries

tsp of brown sugar

In a rocks glass, add brown sugar, three blackberries, lemon slice, thyme sprig and orange bitters. Muddle until mix is combined, add bourbon and fill glass with ice. Garnish with lemon slice, blackberry and thyme sprig.

 

Southern Cucumber

I love any cocktail that features cucumber, and this is no exception.

 

½ cup diced seedless cucumber, reserving one spear for garnish

½ ounce Stirrings simple syrup

2 ounces Makers Mark bourbon

½ ounce fresh lemon juice

½ ounce fresh lime juice

2 ounces chilled ginger ale

ice

 

In a cocktail shaker, lightly muddle the diced cucumber with simple syrup. Add bourbon, lemon juice, lime juice and ice. Shake well and strain into cocktail glass. Top with ginger ale and garnish with cucumber spear.

Try these updated favorites and let me know what you think. Cheers!

by Richard F. Edwards is Marketing Manager at Uptown Wine & Spirits, 1208 Broadway