The quarantine months may have prevented us from enjoying classy cocktails in our favorite bar or night spot, but they have also inspired us to restock and rethink our home bars.
Winding down a stressful day with a nightcap or even mixing a cocktail after dinner is quickly becoming an extension of the gentleman’s home repertoire.
While not everyone can whip up a mixology masterpiece, there’s no reason the cocktails you present to guests or use to reward yourself can’t be elegant.
The modest library of cocktail recipes from 1792 Bourbon certainly has some classy takes on standards like the Old Fashioned, Manhattan or even Hot Toddy. But it also features three classy bourbon cocktail recipes you can make at home.
The Georgia Smash
This cocktail was crafted by Jeffrey Morgenthaler for 1792 Bourbon’s original Style Guide. That publication inspired the creation of 1792 Style, the brand’s online magazine focused on style, decor, cocktails and more for those with discerning tastes.
Morgenthaler is the author of several books on drinks and bartending and has been named Bartender of the Year by both Bar and Nightclub and Tales of the Cocktail.
The Georgia Smash arouses notions of hot summer days and the refreshing splash of coolness that quenches the thirst. Its peach and mint aromas give it lightness while 1792 Bourbon supplies the smash to vault you where you need to be.
You will likely need to pick up a few ingredients before trying this recipe at home, but once you have them, this is a relatively simple drink that can be made for one or in batches.
Can’t make it to your local liquor store? When I’m in the same position, I usually use Drizly, an alcohol delivery service that works with your local liquor stores.
Shop Beer, Wine & Liquor. Then get it delivered in under 60 minutes. Boom, simple.
Ingredients for The Georgia Smash
- 2 ounces of 1792 Bourbon
- ¾ ounce of lemon juice
- ½ ounce of Crème de Peche
- ½ ounce of Orgeat
- 1 large sprig of mint
- 1 large mint bouquet for garnish
Instructions for making The Georgia Smash
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake until cold.
- Fine-strain into a chilled footed highball glass over crushed ice.
- Garnish with mint bouquet.
The Pocket Square
Fashioned by Chris Tunstall, the Pocket Square is an original cocktail that amplifies the flavors and mouthfeel of 1792 Bourbon’s Small Batch expression.
The maple syrup highlights the spirit’s hints of vanilla and toffee while the cinnamon and allspice underline the rye spice for which 1792 Bourbon is known.
Tunstall and his wife Julia make up the duo behind A Bar Above, a website, podcast and resource for mixologists.
The Pocket Square requires a bit of work and time to infuse the bourbon, but it’s a simple cooking recipe that is as exciting as it is tasteful. You can adjust the measurements to create a batch and maximize the output for the effort.
Ingredients for The Pocket Square
- 2 ounces of brown butter, cinnamon and allspice infused 1792 Bourbon (see instructions below)
- ½ ounce of orange juice
- ¼ ounce of lemon juice
- ¾ ounce of maple syrup
- ¾ ounce of egg white
- 1 dash of Angostura bitters
- Ground cinnamon for garnish
Instructions for making The Pocket Square
- Add all ingredients except cinnamon to a shaker tin. Dry shake (without ice) to build foam.
- Add ice and shake well.
- Double-strain into a coupe glass and garnish with freshly grated cinnamon
Instructions for the Brown Butter, Cinnamon and Allspice-Infused 1792 Bourbon
- Over medium heat, add two teaspoons of butter into a small saucepan
- Stir as butter foams and begins to brown
- When the butter is medium brown and has a nutty aroma, remove from heat
- Add ¼ of a teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of allspice
- Stir well and allow to cool for five minutes
- Carefully pour warm butter into 8 ounces of 1792 Bourbon
- Infuse at room temperature for two hours
- Chill in the freezer for 30 minutes
- Remove the hard butter film from the top of the bourbon
- Strain through a coffee filter
Winterfall
Adding a variety of flavors to a cocktail may seem counterintuitive. Too much can be overbearing. But the Winterfall from Kevin Rutkowski is a magical dance of flavors that makes every sip something to behold.
Rutkowski is a brand ambassador for Wiseguy Lounge in Covington, Kentucky, which is recognized as one of the top 60 bars in America.
There’s a bit of theatre to the Winterfall, but it’s a perfect cocktail to “perform” for guests. The rose petal makes it perfect for those occasions with just one guest, too.
Ingredients for Winterfall
- 1½ ounces of 1792 Bourbon
- ½ ounce of 1792 Full Proof Bourbon (to burn)
- ½ ounce of Nocino Walnut Liqueur
- ½ ounce of Chareau Aloe Vera Liqueur
- ½ ounce of rich blackberry syrup
- 3 dashes of Crude Sycophant Orange and Fig Bitters
- Orange-infused bourbon reduction syrup
- Dried roses for garnish
Instructions to make Winterfall
- Add all ingredients into a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until chilled.
- Pour ½ ounce of 1792 Full Proof Bourbon into a coupe glass.
- Swirl the glass and light the bourbon on fire. Express an orange peel directly into the flame.
- Slowly pour the cocktail into the center of the coupe, extinguishing the flame. You must pour slowly so the cold drink doesn’t break the hot glass. Using tweezers, place a dried rose into the center of the cocktail.
Ready to make one of these bourbon cocktail recipes?
Use the ingredients above to build a shopping list. Pick up your 1792 Bourbon—Small Batch is typically readily available—and further elevate your home bar.
If you make one of these, take a photo and share it with me on social! I’m on Twitter, Instagram, or even better, share it with me + other EG readers on Effortless Gent’s Facebook page.
Editor’s note: Thanks to our friends at 1792 Style for partnering with us on this article! 1792 Style is the online magazine companion to 1792 Bourbon. It publishes articles for the man with discerning tastes several times per week. Elevate your style, fashion, home décor, accessories and, of course, taste in bourbon at style.1792bourbon.com.
