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Some of the worlds most iconic cocktails employ whiskey as their base liquor. But there are many other whiskey cocktails, many with historic roots, that have enjoyed a quiet revival along with the boom of craft cocktail culture. So we tapped 12 bartenders to find out which whiskey cocktails they felt werent getting enough accolades.
This lackluster experience isnt limited to bottles sometimes, a drinker may not click with a specific whiskey style or a certain production technique. The hype definitely doesnt live up to the expectations, and the price tag isnt justified especially when theres always a great alternative or two at a better cost.
The whiskey world is like that. Whether youre talking about bourbon , Irish whiskey , or single malt Scotch , you can probably name a bottle that makes you utter meh, even though the public loves it or the taters doggedly chase it down. Plenty of bartenders and bar professionals have at least one whiskey they feel is overrated.
The mash bill contains 18 percent rye and 10 percent malted barley to flesh out the 72 percent corn, and you can definitely taste all three grains along with the classic caramel, brown sugar, and oak frame. Most liquor stores I’ve seen sell OGD for about $25, which is a solid price point for how nicely the whiskey drinks!
Before bourbon, rye whiskey was America’s first native spirit. But with the rediscovery of classic, rye-based drinks during the early-aughts cocktail renaissance, bartenders fell back in love with the bold, spicy style of whiskey — and with that, rye’s comeback began. Rye’s resurgence shows no signs of slowing down.
A good theme isn’t a requisite for a standout cocktail menu, but it definitely makes cocktail hour more fun. Case in point: the new California road trip–inspired menu at Los Angeles’ Big Bar , a 13-year-old neighborhood bar nestled beneath the iconic Griffith Observatory.
There are thousands of whiskeys out in the world. Not all of them appeal to every whiskey drinker, regardless of how popular they are or how ubiquitous they may be on back bars, and this is fine, of course. Whiskey is subjective. This doesn’t make the whiskey bad. Fionna Gemzon, barmanager, None of the Above , St.
The world of whiskey is wonderfully vast, which is why it can often be intimidating — even for aficionados. When it comes to whiskey, underrated really means what overdelivers for the price. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a diverse flavor profile from the typical whiskey we’re used to.” It tends to be a crowd pleaser.
It’s tough to keep up with the constant evolution of whiskey, especially if you don’t have an unlimited budget. That’s where the whiskey world’s most underrated bottles come in. It’s special because it has a beautiful, distinguished profile that can be sipped slowly over a whiskey ball ice cube, all by itself.”
Over the past handful of years, one of the biggest trends in bourbon has been the proliferation of high-proof , cask-strength whiskey releases. Before they’re packaged, whiskeys are usually diluted with water to bring them down to an easier-to-drink proof. Cask-strength whiskeys, however, are sold at their full strength.
The Kentucky whiskey can conjure up images of distillery tours, afternoon cocktails on the porch, or even just some eventful ragers — the last of which usually calls for more affordable bottles. It works well in a Boulevardier or a Whiskey Smash, and offers a smooth complexity without overwhelming the palate.
While it definitely has Islay personality, it is also blended with other single-malt whisky and has a sherry finish, so it’s rounded out a bit. Great for folks just warming up to peated whiskey, and wonderful to sip on its own. Charles Friedrichs, barmanager, The Jones Assembly , Oklahoma City, Okla. “I
Shane Mstroine, bartender/barmanager, Table 45 , Cleveland “I’m gonna go a little more niche with Fuentesca’s 2018 Huertas Las Antenas Blanco. There’s a gentle touch of oak and an element of peppercorn and baking spice that keeps our whiskey drinkers going back for more.”
Roderick Williams, BarManager, Smoked , Columbia, S.C. Heather Blanchard, lead bartender, Virgin Hotels , New Orleans “I definitely wish more people ordered the Paloma ! It’s the same recipe as the ever-popular Negroni, but with whiskey instead of gin. The Last Word. It’s such an underrated cocktail.
Old Fashioned “I imagine the Old Fashioned would probably be the first one on most people’s list just for the fact that it is literally the embodiment of the definition of the word ‘cocktail’ as it was defined in 1803,” says DiMonriva. Whiskey Sour “Again another seemingly simple drink,” says DiMonriva.
It’s been around since the 1700s, and is now served in bars and cocktail lounges all over the globe. But with such a loose origin story and definition, one might wonder: What makes a good one? You can prepare the whiskey, syrup, and citrus in individual mugs and then top with hot water when ready to serve.”
The distillery is in Hye, Texas, and the climate is amazing for aging whiskey. A high-proof, straight bourbon whiskey, Chattanooga 111 sits at — you guessed it — 111 proof. In contradiction to many Tennessee-style whiskeys, Chattanooga 111 is unfiltered, so it maintains all the notes of oak and spice imparted in the maturation process.
We use the Scotch in our Globetrotter cocktail: a combination of Artist Blend, Irish whiskey, blanc vermouth, blackberry, and bergamot.” Could definitely be considered a gateway into a vast category of spirits. It absolutely deserves a spot on any bar, anywhere.” ” —Thomas Mahne, barmanager, The Lexington , St.
See Recipe Autumn Sparkler To get a hefty meal prepped for your nearest and dearest, a nice sessionable cocktail is definitely in order — preferably one with a bit of bubbles. With a bit of lemon juice and hot water to make it, well, hot, the Rum Hot Toddy is sweet, spicy, bright, and definitely delicious.
” —Colin Williams, barmanager, BarManager, Saffron , New Orleans “ Daiyame 25 Sweet Potato Shochu by Hamada Syuzou. the manager gave me a bottle of La Luna Mezcal. It’s definitely a rare bottle to see in Toronto, and it’s staying far away from our slushie machine!” —Rob
If the journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step, then the journey toward becoming a whiskey enthusiast begins with a single dram. Theres no better source to help with that first foray into whiskey than bartenders. Its not just because theyre surrounded by whiskey bottles every time they step behind the stick.
There are thousands of whiskeys available on the world stage. This all but guarantees that there is always going to be something new and interesting for the whiskey enthusiast to discover. After all, life is short, whiskey costs money, and people should spend as little time as possible shelling out cash on subpar bottles.
4 Straight Bourbon Whiskey Frank August Bourbon has only been on the market since 2022, but it drinks like a classic. Plus, their minimalist bottle design looks great on the back bar, which never hurts. Vadim Morozov, executive assistant manager of food, beverage, and culinary services, Casa don Alonso , St.
Others may prefer to keep things classic, opting for simple pours of tequila or whiskey. From what I gather, M&Ms have been around for over 10 years so its not exclusive to this moment but it definitely has staying power. And if theres one group of people that knows exactly what the people want, its bartenders.
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