BreakingFall – Bourbon Cocktail Recipe

I. NEVER. In my wildest dreams. Would have imagined. That my first cocktail published on this little ‘ol food blog would be a bourbon cocktail. Heck, I barely know the difference between whiskey and bourbon. I know enough to know they’re related, how’s that??

Whiskey/ bourbon makes me shiver. To me, it’s like vodka and gin because when I take a sip of any one of those three liquors, I shudder. I swear they send shivers down my spine. I’m talking literal shivers. I get that I-just-ate-a-sour-lemon face followed quickly by the ehhh-my-throat-is-burning coughs. On the other hand, tequila, rum, amaretto, pass ’em down, shots all around!

So why the hell am I making a bourbon cocktail and thinking enough of it to share it with you all??

It’s freaking fabulous.

I’m telling you. I hate bourbon, and I. love. this cocktail. It doesn’t make me shudder, or shiver, or send burning sensations down my throat. In fact I had TWO at dinner earlier this month. That’s saying a lot, cause I’m a cheap date when it comes to alcohol.

This fabulous Denver restaurant, Lower48 Kitchen, sadly closed earlier this month. I had one of the most epic, memorable dinners with a group of friends there back in May before I even moved here. So now that I live here, that whole group plus two more friends gathered there in early November to dine at Lower48’s last dinner service. It was a bittersweet night filled with amazing food… and this bourbon cocktail.

After paying our bill, my friend and I HAD to meet this bartender. I had to meet the man or woman who genius-ly concocted the first bourbon beverage that was so good, I can now say I like whiskey. Or bourbon. Whatever. Someone, please tell me the difference! I know you know. I’m not even gonna google it.

Enter Hayley. Or Halley. Or Hailey. Or Haylee. Remember… this cheap date was two delicious bourbon cocktails in, so I’m just glad I remembered her name! Bottom line, I met this genius bartender and I forgot to ask how to spell her name. Or get her last name. Maybe this cool internet-social-sphere will connect us again someday. Who knows. Well, we’ll call her Hayley. Hayley gets full credit for this fabulous, fall/ winter cocktail sure to convert anyone into a bourbon lover. Best news of all? She was kind enough to share the recipe with me.

Did you know it’s a no-no to shake bourbon cocktails? Bourbon cocktails, I learned from Hayley, should be stirred. Also, typically you don’t mix bourbon with citrus. Also a no-no. Lastly, I learned Hayley is a rule breaker. She did both in this cocktail and it WORKS, as in Honey, you better werk. Um hum. Well, I don’t own a cocktail shaker, so despite also being a rule-breaker/ non-recipe-follower in the kitchen, in my version, I stir the drink with a mini whisk the serve it over the oh-so-trendy big-ass-square ice cube.

You could find it on the Lower48 menu looking like this: BreakingFall red yell bourbon, allspice dram, lemon, maple syrup, cranberry, angostura bitters. I’d never heard of this St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram before, but I found it at the first liquor store I went to, stocked there with all the rum.  It’s a spiced rum that offers clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg flavors. Need I bother telling you those are quintessential fall/ Thanksgiving holiday flavors??! You’re gonna flip when you taste this drink. I still can’t believe Hayley was nice enough to share this recipe with me. She even said I could share it with you. So cool. Please make this drink an every-fall/ holiday/ Thanksgiving/ winter tradition. I know I will. Not to mention, it’s the perfect Thanksgiving cocktail.

Cheers!!!!

Also make sure to tag your photos of this and all L&L recipes on social media: @shawleesha on Instagram and @LaughterandLemonadeFoodBlog on Facebook!

Pin it for later: