Whiskey has been witness to the roots of American history dating back to before our country’s founding. Heck, whiskey even started its own Rebellion in 1791 pitting rye farmers against George Washington over the first ever federal tax on a US made product. Taxation without libation doesn’t sound very democratic to us.
For the curious or unfamiliar (or the just too shy to ask), whiskey is a distilled alcohol made with fermented grains like barley, corn, wheat and rye depending on what’s local to each whiskey-making region. It turns out that what originally grew best in the South was rye, which also offered a signature spicy flavor. Like every libation that’s lasted hundreds of years, Southern whiskey has occasionally fallen out of favor whenever the next shiny Red Bull cocktail comes along. But, classics are classics and whiskey has recently surged back in vogue with a vengeance including both distilleries that have been around since the beginning as well as a crop of newer boutique micro-distilleries that are reviving this historic craft (with the help of some very experienced mixologists).
So if you’re looking for a sure-fire way to knock your guests’ socks off during cocktail hour and keep your family in good spirits next week for Thanksgiving here are three simple-to-follow recipes for iconic whiskey cocktails straight from the distilleries themselves. When we eat our Thanksgiving dinner one thing we’ll be thankful for are the farmers in 1791 who fought to keep making whiskey! Let us know which cocktail recipe tickles your fancy.
The Sazerac Cocktail hails from New Orleans (from a historic distillery) and is often referred to as“America’s First Branded Cocktail”. This classic drink was originally created by Antoine Amedie Peychaud, a local apothecary owner (and a natural mixologist) in 1850 using Sazerac French brandy, absinthe and a dash of his own Peychaud’s Bitters. The drink became very popular and was served in the local “coffehouses” (code for bar back in the 1800s), most closely associated with the original and wildly popular, Sazerac Coffee House.
In 1850, Sewell Taylor, the owner of the Sazerac Coffee House, institutionalized the recipe made with Sazerac French brandy and Peychaud’s Bitters which became the first “branded” cocktail. With the rise of rye whiskey distillation in the US, in 1873 brandy was replaced by rye whiskey and a dash of absinthe was added. In 1940, the official Sazerac Cocktail was founded including a French pastis made of wormwood known as Herbsaint that would become the official absinthe for this historic cocktail. Finally, in 2000 the last modification of the official recipe below was made with the use of Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey.
Since the late 1800s the Sazerac Company has distilled an ever-increasing line of fine spirits, and today remains independent and American-family owned. Would you expect anything else from a company that owns and operates many of America’s most venerable distilling companies including Buffalo Trace Distillery, A. Smith Bowman, Glenmore Distillery, Barton, Fleischmann, Medley, and Mr. Boston? Cheers to that!
The Official Sazerac Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 1 cube sugar
- 1½ ounces Sazerac Rye Whiskey or Buffalo Trace Bourbon
- ¼ ounce Herbsaint
- 3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
- Lemon peel
Pack an Old-Fashioned glass with ice
In a second Old-Fashioned glass place the sugar cube and add the Peychaud’s Bitters to it, then crush the sugar cube
Add the Sazerac Rye Whiskey or Buffalo Trace Bourbon to the second glass containing the Peychaud’s Bitters and sugar
Empty the ice from the first glass and coat the glass with the Herbsaint, then discard the remaining Herbsaint
Empty the whiskey/bitters/sugar mixture from the second glass into the first glass and garnish with lemon peel
The Manhattan is a beloved classic on a roaring comeback. Once a drink associated with the more “distinguished ages”, this simple cocktail is once again showing off its timeless versatility.
The Manhattan has an ambiguous history with its roots most likely connected to the New York City-based Manhattan Club, a swanky social club for political and financial power-brokers in the 1870s. However, there were similar recipes from other locations including the South. Regardless of origin, the original Manhattan drink consisted of a mix of American whiskey, Italian vermouth, and Angostura bitters (also used in an Old Fashioned cocktail).
Since the original concoction there have been lots of iterations. This Thanksgiving’s spin on the classic is from Lyon Distilling Company, a new and fast-growing player in the boutique market for small batch whiskey (and rum) distillation located in Talbot County, Maryland in the historic, waterfront town of St. Michaels. After Prohibition several Maryland-based whiskey distilleries came and went. Founded in 2013, Lyon Distilling Company is the first whiskey distillery to open its doors on the Eastern Shore in forty-two years and bring back this historic craft.
Maryland Manhattan Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 3 ounces of Lyon Free State Maryland Rye Whiskey
- 1.5 ounces of Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth
- Dash of Embittermint DC Aromatic Bitters
Mix all of the above ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a coupe glass
One of the most ironic things about classic whiskey cocktails is that many of them don’t have roots in the South at all. Some after 100 years have taken on flavors and twists from around the country. All of which is a testament to the appeal of American whiskey drinks in the first place.
The Pennsylvania Derby was inspired by the classic Brown Derby drink that originated in the early 1920s and was named after the Brown Derby restaurant located in Los Angeles, California in the early Hollywood days. This modern-day version comes from Heaven Hill Brands, America’s largest independent and family-owned distilled spirits company located in Bardstown, Kentucky. Their National Brand Educator, Lynn House says it’s the fan favorite at any time of year.
But what’s with the name? Shouldn’t it be the Kentucky Derby? The Pennsylvania Derby is named after the state where the signature Rittenhouse ingredient hails from, which along with Domaine de Canton, gives this modern spin its classic honey flavor with ginger notes as a compliment. One more insider secret: House recommends a ruby red grapefruit juice. Which also pairs perfectly with breakfast the morning after Thanksgiving!
Pennsylvania Derby
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Rittenhouse
- 1 ounce Domaine de Canton
- 1 ounce grapefruit juice
Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice
Shake, and strain into a cocktail glass
Garnish with a grapefruit wedge or twist
Editor’s Note: This column was originally published in Southern Living/The Daily South
