Bartender Alex Barbatsis’ Expert Tips on Summer-Worthy Bourbon Cocktails this National Bourbon Day!

Celebrate National Bourbon Day June 14th, with three-time James Beard Award nominee, Alex Barbatsis’ expert tips for making winter’s signature spirit summer-worthy

 

Alex is Head Bartenders at Chicago’s The Whistler (GQ’s 25 Best Cocktail Bars in America), known for being one of Chicago’s OG craft cocktail bars, with live music venue, and art gallery, The Whistler features a rotating menu of inventive craft drinks that utilize spirits from across the globe, including down home Kentucky’s signature “juice.”

 

For bourbon lovers looking to celebrate National Bourbon Day with festive summer sippers we ask Alex to share some of his best tips for doing the day right.

 

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Tell us about mixing cocktails using bourbon on National Bourbon Day.

Bourbon is great to make cocktails with because it’s so versatile. There are endless possibilities for variations. You can make on Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, Whiskey Sours, tropical drinks, shaken citrus cocktails, and so many others. You can also vary the style of bourbon you use as well.

 

What are your favorite bourbon brands to use and why?

Evan Williams is a great cocktail base, lending a good body and sweetness that pairs well with citrus. Old Bardstown is another favorite for stirred drinks because of its bittersweet and strong backbone that holds up nicely to vermouth.

 

Are there innovative expressions in the category that you are enjoying these days?

Not quite innovative, but one underutilized bourbon in cocktails is a sour mash style. It’s where a bit of the previous mash used in fermentation is added to the new mix—think sourdough starter. It adds a round note that makes amazing Juleps and aromatic cocktails.

 

What tips do you have for bartenders creating a professional bourbon menu/program at their bars?

If you want to build a Bourbon list, get some classic Kentucky Bourbons from some of the older distilleries. If you can find a few bottles that whiskey lovers will recognize beyond Pappy and Blantons, it will help subtly bump up your reputation among aficionados. We currently have a few bottles of Heaven Hill bonded from 2014 that people in-the-know geek out about.

 

What are your favorite bourbon cocktails to create? why?

There’s a drink I made called Magic City which is bourbon, blanc vermouth, oroblanco juice (similar to grapefruit), peach liqueur, and hellfire bitters. It’s a bit unique because it’s a stirred cocktail using citrus. The bourbon and oroblanco made for such a light, airy combo that shaking isn’t necessary. Bourbon has so many uses. It’s always fun to find a unique way to serve it.

 

What are the most ordered bourbon cocktails at your bar?

Old Fashioneds are still king of the hill, but we get a lot of calls for the Gold Rush (bourbon, lemon, honey) and our rotating house Old Fashioned called the Old Faithful is always popular.

 

What else should bartenders know about mixing with bourbon

Bourbon and fruit work well together, so try making some tropical cocktails. A Mint Julep with muddled strawberries is a thing of beauty and wouldn’t be out of place at Trader Vics.

 

Alex’s 3 Expert Tips for Mixing Summer Cocktails Using Bourbon:

• It’s All About the Ice Ice Baby:  Crushed ice cocktails like the Mint Julep are perfect summer drinks. People think that crushed ice equals a watery drink, but when you have a drink packed with crushed ice, it keeps the drink so cold that the ice doesn’t melt that fast. Similarly, opt for big ice to avoid watering down your bourbon cocktail. The silicone molds can be found on Amazon or any local barware store.
• Refine The Lost Art of Muddling: Speaking of Mint Juleps, don’t be afraid to muddle some of your favorite summer fruits into your bourbon cocktails. For home use, it’s a lot quicker than trying to make a syrup. What doesn’t taste better with a strawberry muddled into it?
• Bubbles: Adding a bit of effervescence is a great way to impart a light, refreshing note on bourbon. Ginger beer works especially well, because the spice complements the vanilla and caramel notes in the spirit. Try a Kentucky Mule with bourbon, lime, and ginger beer. It’s summer in a glass.

 

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RAINMAKER

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Evan Williams White Label Bourbon
• 1/2 oz creme de violet
• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 oz orgeat
• 4 dashes purple carrot juice

Preparation: Add all ingredients to a shaker tin with ice, shake, and strain into a coupe glass, express and garnish with a lemon peel.

 

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BODEGA BUCK

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz bourbon
• 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 oz honey syrup
• 1/4 oz simple syrup
• 1/4 oz Oloroso Sherry
• ginger ale
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters

Preparation: Add ice to a Collins glass, pour ingredients over ice, topping with the ginger ale and Angostura bitters.