Peychaud’s is the classic bitter that pushes licorice root to the fore. It is also unique among aromatic bitters for its tart and fruity flavors, with lots of rhubarb-like vegetal twang and the sweet juiciness of cherry candy. There is some spice, mostly clove, with a pop of saffron and orange zest before a long and moderately bitter gentian finish.
Aromatic bitters tend to be a mix of baking spice, licorice, fruit, and bitter notes. While some brands will push one of these aspects to the fore, Angostura bitters keep things pretty balanced. Clove, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom, and a touch of cinnamon represent the baking spice angle, and while there’s a recognizable licorice note, it doesn’t dominate. A sweet and sour tamarind-esque fruit flavor shows up next, with a woody, slightly bitter flavor rounding things out
A super interesting development in the American whiskey world is spirit being made at one particular distillery, MGP of Indiana, that is fresh picked off the still and exported across the US to be aged and eventually bottled as a semi-homeade whiskey. With a handful of these producers around, it’s been fascinating to try whiskey that all began at one place, yet ended up tasting totally different as uniquely sourced oak barrels and vastly different climates play their part.
Established in Venezuela in 1959, the Ron Diplomatico distillery nestles between the heart of the countries sugar cane production and a national park that provides the purest of water. Renowned for the quality of their rum, we loved finding out they are equally focused on creating sustainable jobs, community social and health care programs, and have implemented an ecological treatment process to turn waste water into sugar cane fertilizer.
Stir a little comfort food into your comfort beverage with an easy Manhattan variation, and get ready to remi’sip on the bonfires of your youth.
To begin, forsake the bourbon vs. rye choice in favor of High West Campfire’s bourbon and rye and Scotch all-in-one whiskey. This best-of-all-worlds option adds flavors of honeyed grain and gentle smoke, or rather graham cracker and a well-charred marshmallow. Carpano’s Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth, and its big dollop of vanilla, forms the gooey marshmallow core, with 3-4 dashes of your favorite chocolate bitters completing the formula.
A very fun way to mix cocktails from scratch, and also to dress, is to start from the end, and work your way backwards. For example, my sartorial character today is nouveau poor aristocrat who has fallen from wealth but not from grace. Or my cocktail inspiration tonight, is an imaginary drink at the Sundance Film Festival Tonga Room pop-up.
