Hearthside Butter & Bourbon
While fat washing bourbon gives it a savory, buttery depth, adding vanilla beans further intensifies the spirit’s rich, sweet flavors. “When you infuse the bourbon with butter and vanilla beans overnight, it adds a uniquely savory component to this cocktail,” says Caitlin Hula, beverage manager of Cliff House Maine. “Instead of just having the burn of a typical bourbon, you now have a rounder mouthfeel and sweet undertones of the vanilla coming through.” Tropical ingredients don’t immediately come to mind when mixing cool weather cocktails, but Caribbean-spiced falernum brings balance to this recipe, while apple cider adds an essential tartness. As the name suggests, this satisfying libation is best sipped in front of a warm, crackling fire.
Hearthside Butter & Bourbon
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz butter washed vanilla bourbon
- 1 oz mead
- .5 oz falernum
- .5 oz apple cider
- Cinnamon stick and orange peel
INSTRUCTIONS
Step one
Combine all ingredients into a shaker tin with ice.
Step two
Shake and strain into a snifter glass.
Step three
Garnish with a cinnamon stick wrapped in an orange peel.
Contributed by Caitlin Hula