Holiday Spirits

Entertain Your Taste Buds This Winter With Drink Recipes From An Expert

Story By Justin Thompson

Drink Notes Provided By Josh Durr

For this season’s drink recipes The Bourbon Review sought help from cocktail expert Josh Durr. We’re not the only ones seeking Durr’s expertise these days. Through his company, Hawthorn Beverage Group, Durr consults some of the fastest growing brands of Bourbon in the world, including Bulleit and Angel’s Envy, on not only developing appropriate cocktails for their products but other alcohol marketing tactics as well.

Recently, Durr took on the task of building the bar and cocktail program at TRUST, a new Lexington, Ky upscale lounge that has spared no expense to ensure its patrons have an unforgettable imbibing experience. The following drinks were recently added to TRUST’s winter cocktail menu and are perfect for entertaining during the holidays.

Gary K Toddy

•1 1/2 ounce Blantons
•1 ounce Clove Syrup
•6 ounces Darjeeling Tea

Glass Type: Toddy/Coffee

Instructions : Put bourbon, syrup, and tea bag in a 6- ounce mug. Top off with hot water and stir until tea is infused well.

Garnish: Lemon Zest

Notes: It has been suggested that the name comes from the toddy drink in India, produced by fermenting the sap of palm trees. The term could have been introduced into Scotland by a member of the British East India Company.

Levitation Act

•1/12 ounces Bulleit Rye
•1/2 ounce Grade B Maple Syrup
•1/4 ounce Lemon Juice
•1/12 ounces Cider

Glass Type: Collins

Instructions : Add all ingredients to a mixing glass. Add ice. Shake well with a Boston shaker. Transfer to a Collins glass.

Garnish: Cinnamon Bark

Notes: Trust Original

BT Milk Punch

•2 ounces AAA Bourbon
•1 cup Whole Milk
•Freshly Grated Nutmeg
•Split Vanilla Bean

Glass Type: Collins/Old Fashioned

Instructions : Pre-Batch & Chill

Garnish: Vanilla Bean

Notes: Milk Punch is one of the more ancient medications in the pharmacopoeia. They drank it in colonial times, they drank it in Boston, they drank it on the Mississippi riverboats, they drank it just about everywhere, right on through the Second World War.

Caroline Paulus
Caroline Paulus is the Senior Editor for The Bourbon Review. She lives and writes in Lexington, Kentucky. Follow her on Instagram @misswhiskeyhistorian to keep up with her latest in bourbon news - and a few old finds, too.