The key to a great bourbon cocktail is to produce a drink which complements the flavor profile of the bourbon and doesn’t mask it. After all, we’re not talking about any old hooch here. Bourbon is the all-American spirit created and made in the United States of America. It truly is our contribution to the world of distilled spirits.
Author Steve Akley has gathered 50 unique bourbon cocktails from 50 iconic bars. In fact, it’s actually 53 unique cocktails from 52 iconic bars but that title just didn’t sound as good. One submitted two cocktails that fit in its chapter and two other locations submitted cocktails after the book was complete but prior to the final layout being completed. Steve elected to include them and figures they are a great “value add” taking the cocktail count beyond the stated amount.
By the way, we’re not talking the “same old/same old” here. We’re talking about signature cocktails from some of the greatest drinking establishments in the United States.
Take a look at this lineup of participants:
Bale of Hay Saloon/Virgina City, Montana
Big Star/Chicago, Illinois
Bourbons Bistro/Louisville, Kentucky
Bourbon and Branch/San Francisco, California
Bourbon House/New Orleans, Louisiana
Bub City/Chicago, Illinois
Buckhorn Exchange/Denver, Colorado
Buffalo Bodega Gaming Complex/Deadwood, South Dakota
Butter Run Saloon/St. Clair Shores, Michigan
Down One Bourbon Bar and Restaurant/Louisville, Kentucky
E. Smith Mercantile/Seattle, Washington
El Gaucho/Seattle, Washington
El Moro Spirits & Tavern/Durango, Colorado
Equus and Jack’s Lounge/Louisville, Kentucky
The Esquire Tavern/San Antonio, Texas
FAR BAR/Los Angeles, Calfornia
Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge/Alameda, California
Gallagher’s Restaurant/Waterloo, Illinois
Hard Water/San Francisco, California
Herbie’s Vintage 72/St. Louis, Missouri
Jack Rose Dining Saloon/Washington, DC
Martin’s Tavern/Washington, DC
Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood/St. Louis, Missouri
Miller House/Owensboro, Kentucky
Mongoose versus Cobra/Houston, Texas
9th Street Public House/Columbia, Missouri
Old Ebbitt Grill/Washington, DC
Old Major/Denver, Colorado
Parlay Social/Lexington, Kentucky
Parson’s Chicken and Fish/Chicago, IL
Peacock Alley/Bismarck, North Dakota
The Pope House Bourbon Lounge/Portland, Oregon
The Porthole Restaurant and Pub/Portland, Maine
Red Moon/Put-in-Bay, Ohio
The Roosevelt/Richmond, Virginia
The Round Robin Bar at Intercontinental The Willard/Washington, DC
Sable Kitchen & Bar/Chicago, Illinois
Sanctuaria Wild Tapas/St. Louis, Missouri
Seviche, A Latin Restaurant/Louisville, Kentucky
Sloppy Joe’s/Key West, Florida
St. Charles Exchange/Louisville, Kentucky
The Sugar House/Detroit Michigan
Talbott Tavern/Bardstown, Kentucky
The Tavern In Old Salem/Salem, North Carolina
Tonga Hut/Palm Springs, California
The West End Tavern/Boulder, Colorado
Whiskey Bar/Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Whiskey Kitchen/Nashville, Tennessee
Windmill Lounge/Dallas Texas
Wiseguy Lounge at Goodfellas Pizzeria/Covington, Kentucky
Bring home the spirit of these iconic bars by recreating their signature bourbon cocktail by picking up a copy of this edition of Bourbon Mixology!
