It's Only Forever

At Rye on Market in Louisville, Kentucky, the offerings change with the seasons, and cocktails are driven by the bartenders’ most creative flights of fancy. This often leads to compelling themes, including a memorable Mario Kart riff and a menu dedicated to inspirational women, the latter featuring a drink honoring the feminist icon Simone de Beauvoir, among others. The 1986 fantasy film Labyrinth is the basis for the beguiling It’s Only Forever, which takes its name from a song performed in the movie by David Bowie’s extravagant Goblin King. Its plum gin liqueur and fig syrup are enchanting enough that we can imagine them as mixers of choice in a magical, Labyrinth-ian realm. The Buffalo Trace bourbon, however, is pure Kentucky.

Photography by Nick Cabrera

“Louisville is really good at eating and drinking,” says Kelsey Hofmann, Rye’s beverage director. “So that’s what we do.”

MAKE IT ↗

Add 1½ ounces Buffalo Trace bourbon, ½ ounce Averell Damson plum gin liqueur, ¾ ounce lemon juice, ½ ounce fig syrup,* and 1 egg white to a shaker. Dry shake, add ice, and then shake again. Double strain; pour over ice and garnish with Angostura bitters.

*Soak dehydrated figs in water overnight. Strain; add 1 part fig water to 2 parts sugar.