Expand your exploration of classic cocktails with spirits created on the Eastern Shore
Written by Meredith Lindemon
There are a surprising number of distilleries around the Eastern Shore where you can get in the spirit of things, so to speak, with a Scotchy-tasting cocktail. While these are more in the whiskey vein of things, with a definite American appeal, here are a few classic cocktails made from spirits found locally that should allow you to continue your exploration of classic cocktail sipping with local spirits and recipes.
Rye Whiskey: The Pear Sour
Try Sagamore Spirits Signature Rye Whiskey (pictured above) to make this wintertime take on the warm-weather whiskey sour.
Yields 1½ cups:
Ingredients:
1½ oz Sagamore Spirit Signature Rye Whiskey
2 oz pear juice
½ oz lemon juice
½ oz cinnamon syrup
1 fresh pear
Lemon and ground cinnamon for garnish
Instructions:
Cut pear into quarters and remove core. Place one quarter into shaker and muddle.
Add Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey, pear juice, lemon juice and cinnamon syrup.
Add ice and shake until cold. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a lemon wheel and ground cinnamon.
To make the cinnamon syrup, mix one cup each of water and sugar with two cinnamon sticks in a small pot. Cook on medium-low heat until sugar dissolves and reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes. Cool and store in refrigerator.
Rye Whiskey: Vieux Carré
Try Twin Valley Distillery’s 1794 Maryland Rye Whiskey to make this classic boozy drink.
Makes 1 serving:
Ingredients:
1 oz rye whiskey
1 oz cognac
1 oz sweet vermouth
1 tsp Benedictine
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
Lemon twist garnish
Instructions:
Combine the rye, cognac, Benedictine, Angostura and Peychaud’s in a mixing glass. Fill with ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with the lemon peel.
Single Malt Whiskey: Old Line Sazerac
For a variation on the rye Sazerac, try Old Line Spirits American Single Malt Whiskey.
Makes one serving:
Ingredients:
2 oz whiskey
1 sugar cube
4 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
Splash of water
Splash Pernod
Lemon peel for garnish
Ice
Instructions:
Add ice to an old-fashioned glass and let stand to chill. In another glass, combine sugar, bitters and water before muddling until the sugar dissolves. Add the whiskey and fill with ice and stir for 15 seconds. Toss ice from the first glass then add the Pernod, and turn the glass to coat the interior. Discard the excess and strain the contents of the second glass into the first before twisting the lemon peel over the drink.
Rye Whiskey: Black Manhattan
Using Tobacco Barn Distillery Straight Bourbon, make yourself a Black Manhattan.
Makes one serving:
Ingredients:
2 oz rye whiskey
1 oz sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Maraschino cherry garnish
Instructions:
In glass or cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine whiskey, vermouth and bitters and stir well before straining into a martini glass and adding the garnish. CS