Photo from allcocktails.net
There comes a point in life when the philosophical drinker finds that Stoli Rasberry and soda just doesn’t cut it anymore, and it’s time to move on to the big boys of brown liquor: whiskey and bourbon. Those first few trials are rough, and you’re going to pucker your face in attractive horror, but it does gets better! I’m here for you through this rough and confusing patch of experimental drinking.
If you’re not ready for Glenlivet 18 on the rocks, there are multitudes of classic and contemporary whiskey/bourbon-based cocktails. Because of the smooth and strong bitterness to bourbon or a good whiskey, balancing that with subtle sweetness makes a great cocktail and is a painless way to learn your way through whiskey. I’ve unselfishly researched for your drinking needs and come up with a few simple cocktails and where to get them.
A simple rule to follow is that the better the bourbon, the better the drink will taste.
If you drink well bourbon, it’s going to be, well, shitty.
The Gold Rush: A very personal favorite, near and dear to my heart and stomach. It’s a well-shaken mixture of bourbon, real honey, and lemon. The lemon and bourbon add a taste of sour and smooth, mixing well to provide a strong flavor of booziness. The honey sweetens it out and finishes the drink. When cold and shaken perfectly, all of the flavors synchronize into almost a mead-like frosty cocktail. Try it at any of the Franklin Restaurant Group’s locations, (Franklin Café, Citizen Public House, Franklin Southie) since their bartenders seemed trained to make this cocktail perfectly wherever you go. Also, Saloon, which also offers a heady list of whiskeys, bourbons and scotches. Ultimately, I’d recommend trying this drink at Brick & Mortar—there’s just something about the ice.
The Old Fashioned: It’s called “old fashioned” for a reason, because it never goes out of style. I recommend an old fashioned made of bourbon or rye, bitters, sugar, muddled orange and maraschino cherries, and soda water to taste. I have a sweet tooth and prefer a splash of ginger ale instead, which may be blasphemy but maybe I just need to grow some hair on my chest. Look for a bartender with strong forearms, since they are going to muddle the shit out of the fruit. Or they just spend a lot of time alone. Try this classic at Five Horses Tavern or the many other whiskeys, ryes, bourbons, scotches, or moonshine on the menu.
The Kentucky Cousin: Another refreshing but strong drink, the Kentucky Cousin is made up of bourbon, Peachtree Schnapps, unsweetened iced tea, mint simple syrup, and a fresh mint garnish. Tastes like your grandfather’s Arnold Palmer that you weren’t supposed to touch. This drink is not as sweet as it sounds and the mint adds aroma and flavor that works well with the bourbon. Find this cocktail at Tommy Doyle’s in Kendall Square.