The Bourbon & Berries Cocktail: A Seasonal Take on the Old Fashioned
Bourbon, traditionally seen as a spirit for colder months, finds its summer soulmate in strawberries, transforming it into a year-round delight. The Bourbon & Berries Cocktail, a creation that emerged from the innovative minds at San Diego’s Herb & Wood, exemplifies this seasonal transition.
The Birth of Bourbon & Berries
The cocktail was initially crafted by Willem Van Leuven and later adapted by Emily Carroll, bar leads at Herb & Wood. The key to its unique flavor is the strawberry-vanilla syrup, a collaborative creation with executive pastry chef Adrian Mendoza. This syrup is part of a series that includes other seasonal flavors like cranberry-cinnamon and blackberry-cinnamon, showcasing the versatility of fruit syrups in cocktails.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Bourbon Whiskey
- 1 tbs strawberry-vanilla syrup*
- 3 dashes Bitters
Garnish:
- orange twist
Instructions
- Add the bourbon, strawberry-vanilla syrup, and Angostura bitters to a double rocks glass filled with one large ice cube. Stir for 18 to 20 seconds.
- Add a few more ice cubes.
- Express the oil of an orange peel over the glass, then drop the peel in.
*Strawberry-vanilla syrup:
- Combine 1 cup water, 1 cup granulated sugar, and the seeds from 1 vanilla bean in a saucepan. Simmer until sugar dissolves. Add 2 cups sliced strawberries, simmer for 15 minutes, mash, cool, and strain.
Estimated Nutrition:
Flexibility and Seasonal Adaptations
What sets the Bourbon & Berries Cocktail apart is its adaptability. The strawberry-vanilla syrup, while perfect for this cocktail, can also be used in other drinks like Daiquiris or Margaritas, adding a fruity twist. The recipe itself is open to experimentation with different fruits and spirits. For instance, substituting bourbon with rum or rye whiskey can offer a whole new flavor profile, making it a fun and versatile cocktail for any season.
Approach and Tips:
- Approach: The Bourbon & Berries Cocktail is about balancing the robustness of bourbon with the sweet, summery flavor of strawberries, enhanced by the subtle notes of vanilla.
- Tips:
- Quality Bourbon: Choose a bourbon that complements the sweetness of the strawberry-vanilla syrup without overpowering it.
- Syrup Variations: Feel free to experiment with different fruits for the syrup, depending on the season. Apples and pears in fall or other berries in summer can offer delightful variations.
- Spirit Flexibility: Don’t hesitate to swap bourbon with other spirits like rum or rye whiskey to explore different flavor combinations.
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