28 Oct 2023: Stone Fence

When I’m looking for non-classic cocktail ideas, I often fall back on an iPhone app called Perfect Drink. The offerings are searchable by name of course, but there is also an option to locate a drink that utilizes a specific base alcohol or even a non-alcoholic ingredient such as apple cide.

Which is exactly what I did last night when looking for a fall-themed drink (no thank you to pumpkin spice anything). The cocktail I gravitated to was an apple-cider based drink enhanced with both Bourbon and Angostura Bitters - and it was delightful.

Stone Fence Cocktail

• 2 oz. Bourbon (I used Buffalo Trace)

• 4 oz. non-alcoholic apple cider

• 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Place all of the ingredients in a rocks glass, add ice and enjoy. The directions did not call for stirring, so I didn’t - which meant that the first sips were more apple cider-y with a touch of Bourbon and the last ones were more Bourbon with a touch of apple cider. I did like this!

29 Mar 2023: The Buster Brown Cocktail

As a bourbon sour, this one appealed to me. The original recipe I followed called for - in my opinion - too much lemon juice. Next time around, I’ll even out the proportion of lemon to simple syrup.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Bourbon (I used Buffalo Trace)

• 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice (see headnote - this seemed like a lot)

• 1/4 oz. simple syrup

• 2 dashes Orange bitters

Put all in a shaker, add ice and shake for about 15 seconds. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass - no garnish needed.

12 Nov 2022: Boulevardier

While I do enjoy a Negroni cocktail, when colder weather hits, it feels like time to mix it up a bit. The Boulevardier cocktail does just that by substituting bourbon for gin. I’ve seen this cocktail made with equal parts, but I sometimes find Campari overwhelmingly bitter, so using the Diffords proportions resulted in a smooth and balanced cocktail which, in my opinion, worked better and allowed the bourbon to shine through.

The Boulevardier

1-1/2 oz. bourbon (I used Woodfords)

3/4 oz. sweet vermouth (Cocchi Torino is my sweet red of choice)

34 oz. Campari

Add the ingredients to a mixing glass along with ice. Stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled glass (I used an old fashioned glass) or serve over ice. Garnish with orange peel.