Shake Up Your Cocktail Game With Bourbon and Rye
SHAKE UP YOUR COCKTAIL GAME WITH BOURBON AND RYE
VARCHAS Spirits produces both Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys. Whiskey aficionados generally like both and will call on either depending on the cocktail being created.
First, a quick reminder about what is required for a spirit to be called “bourbon.” To be called bourbon, the spirit must meet certain legal requirements set forth by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). The requirements for bourbon are:
- Must be made from a mash bill (the combination of grains used to make the spirit) that is at least 51% corn. The remaining 49% can be made up of other grains, such as rye, wheat, or barley.
- Must be distilled at no more than 160 proof (80% alcohol by volume) and aged in new charred white oak barrels. Bourbon must also be aged for a minimum of two years in those new charred barrels. However, if the bourbon is aged for less than four years, it must have an age statement on the label indicating the amount of time it was aged.
- Must be bottled at a minimum of 80 proof (40% alcohol by volume). Bourbon cannot contain any added flavorings or colors.
- Must be made in the United States.
If the bourbon meets all of these requirements, it can legally be called “Bourbon.”
Some bourbons may also have additional labeling requirements, such as being labeled as “straight bourbon” if they have been aged for at least two years and do not contain any added flavorings or colors.
Here are three trending cocktails to make with Varchas Bourbon.
- Old Fashioned: This classic cocktail has been experiencing a revival in recent years. To make an Old Fashioned, muddle a sugar cube with a few dashes of Angostura bitters and a splash of water in a rocks glass. Add ice, then pour in 2 ounces of Bourbon and stir. Garnish with a twist of orange peel.
- Boulevardier: This cocktail is a variation on the classic Negroni, but substitutes Bourbon for gin. To make a Boulevardier, combine 1 1/2 ounces of Bourbon, 1 ounce of sweet vermouth, and 1 ounce of Campari in a mixing glass. Stir with ice, then strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a twist of orange peel.
- Kentucky Mule: This spin on the Moscow Mule uses Bourbon instead of vodka. To make a Kentucky Mule, combine 2 ounces of Bourbon, 1/2 ounce of lime juice, and 4 ounces of ginger beer in a copper mug filled with ice. Stir gently and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and a slice of lime.
Trending Rye Cocktails
To be called rye whiskey, the spirit must meet the following requirements:
Rye whiskey must be made from a mash bill (the combination of grains used to make the spirit) that is at least 51% rye. The remaining 49% can be made up of other grains, such as corn or barley.
Rye whiskey must be distilled at no more than 160 proof (80% alcohol by volume) and aged in new charred white oak barrels. It must also be aged for a minimum of two years in those new charred barrels.
Rye must be bottled at a minimum of 80 proof (40% alcohol by volume).
If the rye whiskey meets all of these requirements, it can legally be called rye whiskey. Some rye whiskeys may also have additional labeling requirements. Similar to Bourbon, the spirit gets labeled “straight rye whiskey” if the spirit has been aged for at least two years and do not contain any added flavorings or colors.
Here are three trending cocktails that require Rye. Sales of Rye is trending upward as Generation Z drinkers are exploring older, classic cocktails that employ Bourbon and Rye.
- Sazerac: This classic New Orleans cocktail is made with rye whiskey, absinthe, Peychaud’s bitters, and a sugar cube. To make a Sazerac, coat the inside of an old-fashioned glass with absinthe and discard the excess. In a separate mixing glass, muddle a sugar cube with a few dashes of Peychaud’s bitters, then add 2 ounces of rye whiskey and ice. Stir until chilled, then strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
- Manhattan: This timeless cocktail is typically made with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. To make a Manhattan, combine 2 ounces of rye whiskey, 1 ounce of sweet vermouth, and a dash of bitters in a mixing glass with ice. Stir until chilled, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.
- Penicillin: This modern cocktail is made with rye whiskey, honey, lemon juice, and ginger. To make a Penicillin, combine 2 ounces of rye whiskey, 3/4 ounce of honey syrup (made by combining equal parts honey and hot water), 3/4 ounce of fresh lemon juice, and a small piece of fresh ginger (about the size of a thumbnail) in a shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a slice of ginger.
