Story by Andy Ratcliff, electronic mail him andrewjohn@me.comandrewjohn@me.com
The whisky bitter is without doubt one of the oldest cocktails in existence. It dates again to the 1860s, however sailors had been consuming one thing comparable for lengthy earlier than that. There are a bunch of early references to it, however the first official report of it’s from our boy Jerry Thomas in 1962. It’s additionally nonetheless round at the moment and is without doubt one of the most ordered drinks in Australia. I believe I’ve revamped three thousand of them throughout my years as a bartender. It’s a easy and scrumptious cocktail that by some means turned high of thoughts, in all probability because of bars like Shady Pines Saloon and The Baxter Inn. However if you happen to’re bored of constructing it and wish to counsel an alternative choice to your company to combine it up, listed below are just a few concepts…
Penicillin
Probably a very powerful drink of the century from our man Sam Ross of Attaboy in New York Metropolis. Sam created this riff on the Gold Rush at Milk & Honey and it gained momentum so quick that you could possibly order it in most cocktail bars on the planet with out explaining what’s in it.
He initially used a few Compass Field Whiskies, one blended for the physique and one smoky to cap it off and he used a mixture of ginger and honey to sweeten and spice it up.
Don’t serve this drink with a straw.
ADVERTISEMENT
 
Scofflaw
The time period ‘Scofflaw’ was used within the early Twenties to explain a lawless drinker, and it’s straightforward to change into one after realizing what number of of those you may pound in a single session. They go down simply as a result of the cocktail is sweetened with Grenadine. The addition of Dry Vermouth offers it some good physique, and including Orange Bitters or Peychauds offers it a bit extra depth.
Cameron’s Kick
The Cameron’s Kick first appeared in a 1922 e-book by Harry MacElhone referred to as the ABC of Mixing Cocktails and it’s mainly only a good mixture of Scotch Whisky and Irish Whisky coupled with Orgeat (a French almond syrup) and Lemon juice. It’s an attention-grabbing combine however worthy of any iteration on the whisky bitter.
Gold Rush
This can be a ripper of a twist thought up by T.J. Siegal whereas consuming on the legendary New York bar Milk & Honey. It blends equal components honey water and lemon with a high-proof Bourbon, initially Elijah Craig.
Algonquin
That is the worst drink ever. Jenna Hemsworth is the one bartender within the nation who admires this drink, however regardless of her epic expertise, she’s improper. Sorry, Jenna!
New York Bitter
This strange twist was allegedly thought up within the late 1880’s in Chicago. It’s been labeled the Continental Bitter, The Southern Whisky Bitter and the Claret Snap however let’s be trustworthy… It’s a Whisky bitter with a float of purple wine. It’s okay if you happen to dial again every thing else within the drink, however there nothing to jot down dwelling about…except you’re a sommelier.
Rattlesnake
You’ll be able to thank the Savoy cocktail e-book for this not-so-well-known basic riff with the addition of absinthe to a Rye Bitter, which was named appropriately as a result of it would both “treatment a rattlesnake chew, or kill rattlesnakes, or make you see them”. The Savoy cocktail e-book at all times delivers! This riff is completely killer!
