Cooking Lesson #12— American Whiskey Martini Cocktails Happy Hour

How you doin’? I guess it’s really starting to get to me, but there is a silver lining. It must be all the sanitizers, but it seems that my body has absorbed so much soap and disinfectant over the last 32+ days that when I pee it cleans the toilet bowl! I'm here all week (month, summer)... tell your friends!
 
Brittany in Orange County had to remind me that I missed Happy Hour last week. She told me her husband is a whiskey man and has been stock-piling the booze just in case prohibition makes a hasty return. I have designed bar programs for many of our clients that feature Gin or Vodka Martinis and American Whiskey cocktails and all of us at Perspectives are all too familiar with the subject. I know Brittany and her husband are expecting big things, looking for some happy hour Quarantini whiskey cocktails. So, Brit, happy to accommodate you. Cheers!
 
First, a little about American Whiskey… American whiskey is whiskey produced in the United States, of course. The primary types of American whiskey are bourbon whiskey, rye whiskey, rye malt whiskey, malt whiskey, wheat whiskey, and corn whiskey. All of these are made from mashes with at least 51% of their named grains. Then there’s Tennessee Whiskey which must meet very specific quality and production standards. We recommend reading about them while listening to Chris Stapleton’s excellent country ballad.
 
The Doppelgänger Martini
After drinking a couple of these Doppelgänger Martinis, you may be seeing double. This one also includes Aquavit, which, by itself is enough to… well, just let’s say, you’ll be singing Hans Christian Andersen songs soon enough! Akvavit or aquavit is a distilled spirit that is principally produced in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries, since the 15th century. It is distilled from grain and potatoes and gets its distinctive flavor from spices and herbs. The dominant flavor must (according to the European Union) come from a distillate of caraway seeds.
 
Ingredients
1.5 oz American Whiskey
0.5 oz Aquavit (preferably Aalborg Gold)
0.75 oz Martini & Rossi Dry Vermouth
0.25 oz Yellow Chartreuse
1 dash Angostura Bitters
Lemon Peel garnish
 
Directions

1. Pour all ingredients, except for the lemon peel, in a mixing glass filled with large ice cubes.
2. Stir (do not shake) gently for about 30-60 seconds and strain using a cocktail strainer into a chilled coupe glass.
3. Express a lemon peel over the drink and discard.
4. Bottoms up!

 
The Manhattan
The original Manhattan was invented in New York City in the 1870s. We’ve taken some liberties with this cocktail. This recipe is like an accent from a New Yorker resident—big, loud and bold. You will need a shaker or stirring glass, a bar or long ice teaspoon and a cocktail strainer.

Ingredients
2 parts American Whiskey
½-part Martini & Rossi Vermouth
1 dash Angostura Bitters
Cubed ice
A lemon twist or a maraschino cherry, to garnish
 
Directions

1. Chill a cocktail glass by filling it with ice.
2. Pour all of the ingredients (except the garnish) in a cocktail shaker containing plenty of ice.
3. Stir (do not shake) gently for around 30-60 seconds.
4. Strain the mixture into the glass and garnish with a lemon twist or cherry.
5. Cheers!

#HappyHour #Cocktails #Whiskey #TennesseWhiskey #ChrisStapleton #Doppelganger #ManhattanCocktail #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup #QuarantineKitchen #Covid19

---