WHISKEY MOOD

Enjoy a little bit of whiskey tonight; there are always moments when whiskey can be the delightful drink you’ve been looking for.

For a highly classic drink that gives your palate a smile; try ‘Blood and Sand.’ It’s made with ¾ oz. Johnnie Walker Black scotch, ¾ oz. cherry liqueur, ¾ oz. sweet vermouth, ¾ oz. orange juice, and 1 thin strip of orange zest. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the scotch, cherry liqueur, sweet vermouth, and orange juice; strain into a martini glass, and then garnish with the strip of zest.

Give your palate a little coffee boost with ‘The Revolver.’ It’s made with 2 oz. bourbon, ½ oz. coffee liqueur, 2 dashes of orange bitters, and a wide strip of orange zest for garnish. Combine bourbon, coffee liqueur, and orange biters in a mixing glass; fill with ice. Stir it for about 30 seconds, and then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Twist the orange peel to express oils over the drink and use as garnish.

Hard cider is fun any time of the year; a ‘Spiced Bourbon Cider’ is just what you need to get the lovely night started. This recipe serves 10 people: it’s made with 5 c. apple cider, 2.5 c. bourbon, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 knob of ginger (about 2 inches and sliced), 2 cinnamon sticks, 2.5 c. ice, 5 tablespoons maple syrup, and bitters. In a saucepan, combine apple cider, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon sticks; bring to a boil and then cover. Remove from heat, and let the cider steep. Place in refrigerator after that. Strain the cider into a container and place in the refrigerator to chill. To make 2 cocktails at a time in a cocktail shaker, add ½ c. ice, ½ c. bourbon, 1 c. cider, and 1 tablespoons maple syrup; shake well. Using a cocktail strainer or small sieve, strain the liquid over ice into your drinking glass, and then finish each glass with a dash of your favorite bitters. Enjoy.