Sometimes the ingredients in a cocktail don't seem to belong together. On its face, flowers and herbs may appear too light to hold up against whisky and too grassy to complement notes of vanilla and baking spices. But when you mix them together and take a sip, you realize the ingredients find an appealing harmony.
That's the thinking behind The Gentlemen, a floral Old Fashioned riff created by Quinn Gallagher, bartender at Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar in Aspen, Colorado. Dolin Genepi 1821 lends bright, fresh, herbal flavors, and Lillet Blanc is not only floral but also citrusy. All of this helps soften the sweetness of the bourbon, while the whisky rounds out the other flavors, Gallagher says.
The drink is named after the movie. “The ingredients remind me of the characters,” Gallagher says. “Some can be harsh by themselves, but when you put them all together, you have the perfect cocktail...and the perfect movie.”
The Gentlemen
- 1 1/2 oz. Buffalo Trace (or other bourbon)
- 1/2 oz. Dolin Genepi 1821
- 1/2 oz. Lillet Blanc
- 2 dashes Peychaud's Bitters
- Orange twist for garnish
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir for about 10 seconds to dilute and chill. Strain over a large cube in a rocks glass. Garnish with orange twist.
