Craft whiskey infusions are all the rage. And it’s easy to see why. Whiskey continues to grow in popularity and it makes sense that the coolest, craft-savvy bartenders want to cement them into cocktail culture lore forever. And infusions are an easy (and low cost) way of sprucing up your favorite whiskey. Infusing a spirit with a food ingredient is one of the best and easiest ways to express seasonality in a cocktail. The following infused recipes from Liquor.com are for the bourbon fans who want to up the ante on your favorite drink.
Normandie Old Fashioned
Did you know that bourbon pairs perfectly with coconut? It gives the infusion a fresh, nutty and tropical flavor that will make you wish you were on vacation. The coconut flakes are infused with bourbon and then combined with apple brandy. Spicy almond simple syrup adds body and gives the coconut-infused bourbon space to shine.
Dracarys
For any Game of Thrones fans, this next recipe is for you. It’s named after the command word that Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons, uses to unleash dragon fury on anyone she meets. The base of the drink is just as fiery. It’s made with a chile-infused bourbon and topped with ginger beer and lime to balance the heat.
Benton’s Old Fashioned
This cocktail is one of the most famous recipes to use a fat-washing technique that is now gaining popularity. The base of the cocktail uses a bacon-fat-washed bourbon and is paired with maple syrup and Angostura bitters. Any bacon fat would work, although for it to be a true Benton’s Old Fashioned, the recipe calls for Benton’s Country Ham. Because of Benton’s Old Fashioned recipe, bartenders have tried fat-washing spirits with everything from peanut butter to an entire grilled cheese sandwich.
Hailey’s Comet
The inspiration from this cocktail came from Hailey Coder, the leader bartender at The Park Bistro & Bar in Lafayette, California. She topped fresh peaches with a dollop of whipped cream and wondered if she could duplicate the idea with a cocktail. You’ll start with a peach-infused bourbon and add blackberry and elderflower liqueurs. Round out the recipe with honey and fresh peach slices for a dessert in a glass.
Brown Butter Old Fashioned
If you haven’t tried brown-butter-washed bourbon you are truly missing out. You’ll find it everywhere in Kentucky because locals there know how delicious it is. And unlike some of the others, washing the bourbon with butter is pretty simple: Heat unsalted butter in a saucepan until it lightly browns and gains a nutty aroma. Throw the butter and bourbon together in a Ziploc bag and toss it in the freezer to freeze the fat, then skim off the solids. To make the cocktail you’ll add a dose of brown sugar syrup and Angostura bitters before garnishing with an orange peel and maraschino cherry.
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