DRINKS: BOURBON

Winter IS COMING

By: Pinny Wasser

There are cold winter months ahead, but you’ll be prepared for those cozy nights in front of the fireplace with a glass in hand.

Fall is upon us, there’s a chill in the air, and the comforting smells of warm pumpkin pie and maple syrup are wafting out of the kitchen. This is when we start transitioning from the cool and refreshing drinks of the summer to the warming and relaxing drinks of the fall. After all, nothing says a relaxing autumn night more than sitting by the fire with a scotch, whiskey or bourbon in one hand and a smooth cigar in the other.

SIPPIN’ THE BOURBON

Has your interest piqued yet? Are you running to light the fireplace? Are you heading to your liquor cabinet to pull out your favorite bottle? If so, come along as I introduce you to some drinks that will be a sure way to not only warm you up but also elevate your knowledge of the perfect fall glass. (For the ultimate “Mocher Move,” check out our cigar article to enhance your knowledge on cigars and you just may learn what type of cigar to pair with your drink.) This time of the year is synonymous with the classic fall flavors like maple, cinnamon and nutmeg. Coincidentally, those are just some of the flavors you can taste as you sip your bourbon. Bourbon provides your tastebuds with nuances of flavor that will get you to that ultimate fall chill mode. The best way to experience the full flavor profile is to not to shoot your drink back, but rather take a small sip, inhaling as you sip and exhaling slowly as you swallow. This allows your senses to open up and connect your smell and taste to the complex flavor of your drink.

Come on in from the cold and let’s dive into some options you may want to explore as you expand your fall drinking options. As discussed in Mochers Magazine Issue #1, bourbon must be made of 51% corn, aged in brand new oak barrels and hit 80 to 160 proof at the time of bottling. From there, distilleries will add their own blend of grains to achieve the signature bourbon that makes them unique. With all these factors in play, you will find a plethora of bourbons with a never ending Tasting Tip: variety of flavor profiles to If your bourbon is too strong, try adding an ice cube to tone it enjoy. down. This trick will also provide some refreshment to your drink. Diving a bit further into that perfect fall dram, let’s take a look at specific bourbon flavors and bottles that you may want to open up this fall. Traditionally, you will find that each bourbon will provide your palate with flavors of sweet maple, cinnamon, oak, and even some pitted fruits like plums. Based

on the unique process and grain blend that the distiller uses, you may be able to note many of these flavors as you smell and take a sip. Prior to beginning their process, each distiller will decide the tasting experience their consumer will have. Not all bourbons will present these flavors at first sip, as you may need to let it sit in addition to applying the breathing tip discussed above.

Now picture sipping on some bourbon by the warmth of the fire after a long day watching football, picking pumpkins, or playing in the leaves. By now your interest has piqued, but what bottle did you pick out? If you still need a moment, I’ll give some of my favorites that you may want to pick up.

Starting the lineup would be the Four Roses Small Batch Select which gives off a cinnamon and caramel note to the nose as you smell the bourbon. As you take a sip, you will enjoy a fruity cinnamon flavor on the upfront and finish with a nice oaky vanilla as you breathe in and swallow. There is a reason why Four Roses has been around since 1884, producing a number of truly amazing bourbons, all of which are sure to provide you with amazing flavor that won’t break the bank.

My second recommendation would be Blanton’s Special Reserve Bourbon. If you are looking for this bottle in the store, be sure to look for the round-shaped bottle with a horse on top. When cracking this bottle open, you will be greeted with the smell of fall, including delicious aromatic vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg — if that doesn’t scream fall then I don’t know what does.

As you pour and take your first sip you will enjoy the flavors of honey, oak, and cinnamon, finishing off with a spiced honey flavor. Blanton’s truly knows how to hit the ball out of the park with their bourbon. Fortunately, if you’d like to enjoy their bourbon, there are a few options to keep your wallet in check or even allow you to celebrate and relax in luxury. Lastly, I will leave you with a rye whiskey (bourbon) cause rye not….. I mean why not. Laws Secale Straight Rye is one of my favorites for all year long bourbon drinking and will certainly make its way to the top of your list if you decide to give it a try.

When pouring Laws Secale Straight Rye you will be met with the smell of maple, rye, butterscotch, caramel, and even a floral aroma. If the smell doesn’t bring you in, be sure to give this one a taste. Upon first sip you will certainly taste the rye, followed by the smooth flavors of maple, orange, and sweet oaky honey. You will be completely wowed as you sip this one on a cold evening this fall.

It is with these three suggestions that I will leave you, my fellow bourbon drinkers. I hope you’ve been given some more knowledge and the drive to try a nice bourbon by the fire this fall. As always, make sure to pause, breath, and take in the moment as you enjoy that sip of bourbon.

PINNY’S FALL DRINK RECIPES FOR THE MOCHERS

Classic Old Fashioned

• 2 oz. rye bourbon (such as Laws Secale Straight Rye) • 3 dashes bitters • ½ teaspoon sugar • Orange peel, for garnish • Maraschino cherry, for garnish

Add bourbon, bitters, and sugar into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and stir to combine.

Place one large ice cube in a glass and pour shaker contents over ice. Garnish with orange peel and maraschino cherry. The Mocher’s Bourbon Sour

• 3 oz. bourbon (such as Bulleit Bourbon) • ½ teaspoon sugar (or more to taste) • 1 oz. fresh lemon juice • Lemon peel, for garnish • Maraschino cherry, for garnish

Add bourbon, sugar, and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake to combine.

Place one large ice cube in a glass and pour shaker contents over ice. Garnish with lemon peel and maraschino cherry.

Tip:

Top with sparkling water to transform your drink into a Bourbon John Collins.

M

Pinny Wasser is a contributor for Mochers Magazine.