Spring blooms and a fresh batch of Orasella cherries in our pantry, inspired this latest round of cocktail recipes, as we're always trying to improve our at-home cocktail making skills. One tip I was recently reminded of, is that a well-balanced cocktail requires three, not just two. flavor elements: 1. sweet, 2 sour 3. bitters. While most of us know how to make a drink sweet and sour, bittering agents are often overlooked.
In the recipes below, our Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrup and Orasella cherries are the consistent sweetening elements, and are must haves for any aspiring at-home mixologist. We tinkered with an array of three different spirits to see how the cherries and maple syrup can bring out different flavor profiles depending upon their counterpart. From bourbon to rye to mezcal and tequila, there is a recipe below sure to speak to any cocktail enthusiast’s interests.
Enjoy!
Maple Amaro Sour Cocktail
Amaro Averna liquor is a popular Italian bitter digestif that balances the sweetening agents of the cherries and maple syrup, along with the lemon juice for a touch of sour. Together, the elements are well-balanced, refreshing and frothy on the tongue thanks to our egg whites shaken vigorously.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 ounce Amaro Averna liqueur
- .75 ounce bourbon of choice
- 1 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- .25 ounce Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrup
- .25 ounce of Orasella cherry juice
- 1 egg white
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions:
Combine ingredients in a shaker and dry shakewithout ice for 10 seconds. This should create a frothy foam texture. Add ice to the shaker, shake to chill, then strain into a rocks or old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a cherry.
Maple Manhattan
While some may say Manhattans are more of a cold weather drink of choice, we say Manhattans should be enjoyed year round, especially when made right. The large ice cube makes the presentation and drinking experience that much better.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Rye
- 0.5 ounce Dry Vermouth
- 0.5 ounce Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrup
- 2 dashes of Bitters
- Large ice cubes for Old Fashioned glass (our cube tray work best for the glass)
- 3 skewered Orasella cherries for garnish
Instructions:
Add rye, vermouth, syrup, and bitters in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously, pour over a large cube of ice in an Old Fashioned or rocks glass. Add skewered cherries for garnish.
Smokey Blackberry Smash
Like tequila, Mezcal is made from agave plants and is considered by some the more "rustic cousin of tequila" due to its smoky flavor. For those that prefer a smoother, less smoky flavor, you can easily opt for 2 ounces of tequila and omit the Mezcal. However, for those who enjoy the smoky flavors of Mezcal, this balances out the tartness and sweetness of the syrup and cherries and makes for a very unique flavor profile.
Ingredients:
- 1 ounces Mezcal
- 1 ounce tequila
- 4 Blackberries
- 0.5 ounce Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrup
- 0.5 ounce Orasella cherry juice
- 0.75 ounce fresh Lime juice
- Large ice cubes for glass
- 3 skewered Orasella cherries or blackberries for garnish
Instructions:
Add mezcal (or tequila), blackberries, maple syrup, cherry juice, and lime juice to the shaker. Muddle ingredients until blackberries are thoroughly macerated. Add ice and shake. Pour into a large Old Fashioned or rocks glass with large ice cubes. Garnish with skewered cherries or blackberries.
