Spring Tonic
With Passover and Easter this weekend, and graduations and Mother’s Day fast approaching, now is the time to get ready for Spring entertaining! This year, instead of a side dish or dessert, why not offer to bring a drink to the party.
Amy Tobin, the bourbon ambassador of America’s River Roots, shares a few of her favorites from local establishments and distilleries to keep your spirits up, rain or shine.
Bourbon Basil Lemonade
This crisp cocktail is a go-to at Greyhound Tavern, blending Kentucky bourbon with lemonade and a hint of basil. It’s perfect for patio season at the Tavern—or wherever you need a little Kentucky sunshine.
2 oz bourbon
2 oz basil simple syrup
2 oz fresh lemonade
Garnish
1 basil leaf
1 twisted lemon wheel
Ice
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a Collins glass filled with ice.
Garnish with a basil leaf and a twisted lemon wheel.
– Greyhound Tavern
www.greyhoundtavern.com
Tropical Old Fashioned
Glassware: Rocks Glasses
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
3 dashes Tiki Bitters
1/4 oz pineapple demerara syrup
2 oz New Riff Bottled In Bond Bourbon
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass. Add ice and stir. Strain into a rocks glass with a big cube.
for Pineapple Demerara syrup
1 cup fresh pineapple juice
2 cups Demerara sugar
In a small saucepan over medium low heat add pineapple juice and Demerara sugar. Stir mixture until sugar dissolves. Take off heat. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one month.
– New Riff
www.newriffdistilling.com
The Apollo
2oz Pensive Vodka
fresh muddled jalapeño and blackberry
1/2 oz mint syrup
1/2 oz lime juice
Top with soda
– Pensive Distilling
pensivedistilling.com
Charlie Hustle
2 oz Willow Run McRoberts Straight Bourbon Whiskey
3/4 oz of mango puree
1/2 oz of strawberry puree
3/4 to 1 oz lime juice
4-6 full droppers Hellfire Habanero Shrub
3 dashes Smoked Chili Bitters
Rim rocks glass with Tajin and smoked sugar blend. Combine cocktail ingredients in a shaker. Shake and strain into the prepared rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.
– Willow Run
willowrunbourbon.com