As the weather cools, we crave dark spirits. bourbon It’s back on our minds. We’re starting to whip up Old Fashioneds The following are some examples of how to get started: Manhattans, but we’re always looking for a new drink to embrace autumn with, too. In order to go beyond our usual options, we asked bartenders about their favorite underrated Bourbon Cocktails. Here’s what they said.
Bartenders’ picks for the best bourbon cocktail:
- The Birdcage
- Manhattan
- Whiskey smash
- New York Sour
- Boulevardier
- Sazerac
- Gold Rush
- Right Hand
- Cocoa Puffs – Old Fashioned
- Remember the Maine
- Stone Face
- Paper Plane
- Lion’s Tail
- A La Louisiane
“Andrew O’Loughlin of the Penrose came up with a great Jungle Bird The Birdcage is a riff that uses bourbon instead of rum, and leans on fall flavors. The drink mixes bourbon and Method Sweet Vermouth with cinnamon-spiced Demerara to give it a fall flavor. We add red bitter liqueur to the Jungle Bird and pineapple juice. It’s a tiki drink for the Northeast.” —Pete Vasconcellos, beverage director, Albert’s BarNYC
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“The Manhattan. Is this underrated, you may ask? You’re right. The Manhattan is underrated by the younger generation and doesn’t get the attention it deserves. It’s very classic, with distinct flavors.” —Jon Badaracco, general manager, STATE Grill & BarNYC
“A Whiskey SmashIt is the best bourbon drink, but it’s underrated. This cocktail is perfect for its simplicity. Add 2 ounces bourbon and muddle the mint, sugar, lemon and lemon juice. Serve over crushed ice. I love the idea that it probably tastes roughly the same as it did when it appeared in the “Jerry Thomas Bartenders Guide” in 1887. This is a massive improvement to the Mint JulepThis cocktail seems incomplete by comparison. The addition of acid and aromatic oil from the muddled lemon brightens up the drink into a refreshing summer cooler.” —Rob Ficks, bar manager, Pammy’s, Cambridge, Mass.
“One of my favorite old cocktails to make — which I tend to never see anymore and used to fly off the shelves when I was cutting my teeth in the industry — is a super traditional New York Sour. This is a bit of a gimmicky drink, but I find it perfect for autumn because it’s still refreshing and not too theme-y — I’m looking at you pumpkin spice Negroni!” —Nick Perdue, beverage & entertainment director, Tzeva, Sarasota, Fla.
“The Boulevardier, the Negroni’s cousin, is a bourbon cocktail I believe is underrated. It’s a perfect balance between bourbon, Campari It is sweet vermouth, which makes this cocktail very special.” —Cristian Martinez, beverage & food manager, The Foundry, Dayton, OH
“It may seem counterintuitive, but the best time of year for citrus is in the winter. I love drinking this time of year. Gold Rush, a distant cousin of Bee’s Knees cocktail. It’s a cocktail with bourbon, honey syrup, and fresh lemon juice. It is slightly spicy and refreshing.” —Alex Cuper, beverage director, El Che Steakhouse & BarChicago
“One of my favorite cocktails for fall is a Left Hand cocktail, created by Sam Ross. This cocktail is a variation of a Boulevardier that includes bourbon, Campari, sweet vermouth, and chocolate bitters.” —Demi Natoli, beverage director, White Limozeen, Nashville
“The Cocoa Puffs Old Fashioned is a Broken Shaker staple. [With] This cocktail, made with High West Bourbon and High West Double Rye along with Cocoa Puffs, is the perfect sweet-bitter combination. The playful flavors of the Cocoa Puffs seamlessly blend with the rich, smoky taste of the High West liquors, making the drink an elegant twist on a classic cereal and bringing us all back to our childhood.” —Jose Perez-Roura, property bar manager, Broken ShakerMiami
“Manhattans and Old Fashioneds get all the love, but the next level up in bourbon cocktails is the Remember the Maine. A combination of bourbon, rye, sweet vermouth, Heering Cherry, and an absinthe rinse, the Remember the Maine is delicious and especially perfect for cold weather.” —Jessi Pollak, bar manager, Spoon and StableMinneapolis
“Surely the most underrated drink with bourbon is the Stone Face, a mixture based on bourbon, Angostura, and apple cider. You can combine bourbon with an apple cider that you love. [creates] the perfect blend of vanilla, season, and caramel, all notes that recall the autumn season.” —Massimiliano “Max” Barbetta, Bartender, Antica PesaBrooklyn
“Sam Ross’s Paper Plane Cocktail continues to impress as a classic. It’s a riff on a Last Word, substituting bourbon for gin, Aperol Amaro Nonino maraschino Chartreuse You can substitute lime for lemon. It’s an equal-parts cocktail that flexes how a bartender with a good palate can create a unique and balanced cocktail using ingredients found behind an average bar. Try it out with N.Y. State Made Neversink Select Bourbon, finished in the casks of their exquisite Apple Aperitif, for a lovely fall flare.” —Leif Huckman, beverage manager, INNESS, Accord, N.Y.
“In my perspective, the most underappreciated gem among bourbon cocktails is the New York Sour. This cocktail artfully combines a unique medley of ingredients that typically don’t find themselves mingling: zesty lemon, frothy egg white, robust red wine, and, of course, the heartwarming embrace of bourbon. The velvety interplay between egg, sugar and bourbon creates a symphony that is a perfect balance of flavors. As the final touch, the inclusion of red wine adds a sublime rounding quality, leaving you yearning for another sip of this remarkable concoction.” —Judy Elahi, beverage director, Gravitas, Washington, D.C.
“Remember the Maine is one of my favorite bourbon cocktails, whether I’m making it for myself or sharing it with guests. The rye whiskeySweet vermouth absinthe, it’s somewhat of a cross between a Sazerac The following are some examples of how to get started: Manhattan — the perfect drink to pull out for someone who enjoys boozy cocktails. Bonus: How else are you going to move through your Cherry Heering?” —James Coleman, beverage manager, Le Cavalier, Wilmington, Del.
“The Lion’s Tail is an autumnal all-spice variation on a Whiskey Sour — scratches all the fall spice itches in one delicious drink! It’s one of our favorite cocktails in the Speed Rack arsenal of classic cocktails. It can be tricky to balance the allspice with the bourbon but once you get it, it’s just right.” —Ivy Mix, co-owner, Leyenda and FIASCO! Wine and SpiritsBrooklyn
“I love a good Boulevardier, especially when you kick up the bourbon and slightly lower the sweet vermouth — though I’m a vermouth snob and it’s gotta be Carpano Antica. It’s just a touch sweet, a bit bitter, and all-around delicious!” —Stephanie Reading, bar manager, Birdie G’sSanta Monica, Calif.