Make & Muddle Bourbon Rickey
Highballs are a broad and inclusive category, but one that we often overlook. They are delicious and lighter on the ABV, making them a perfect holiday cocktail. Technically a Highball is any cocktail that has an alcoholic spirit in it with a larger portion of non-alcoholic mixer. There are several cocktails that can fall into this category, even something as simple as a gin and tonic or a bourbon Rickey. Today we are doing a seasonal, festive take on a Bourbon Ricky with our 3 Herb Gracious Grapefruit mixer.
This mixer was created during the pandemic for a client that wanted a delicious and seasonal cocktail that would pair beautifully with all of the glorious food for Thanksgiving. The challenge was accepted and this herbal beauty came to life, and as with all of Make & Muddle mixers, transitions seamlessly from gin to bourbon to tequila to vodka and anything else I have added to it. Charred grapefruit & lime, and the fresh herbs of the holiday- rosemary, sage, and thyme- all come together to create a beautiful, balanced cocktail.
This three ingredient cocktail also batches easily and everything but the seltzer can be done ahead of time. The batch recipe is located below as well. Cheers to delicious holidays!!
Make & Muddle Bourbon Rickey
Glass: Tom Collins or Tumbler
Served: On the Rocks
Yield: One drink
1.5 oz Bourbon
1 oz Make & Muddle 3 Herb Gracious Grapefruit*
.5 oz lime
Lime wedge for garnish
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until very cold and strain into a fresh rocks glass with ice. Top with seltzer or Lime High Noon. Garnish with a wedge of lime or grapefruit peel.
*Substitution for 1 oz of 3 Herb Gracious Grapefruit=
0 .5 oz grapefruit lime simple syrup
0.5 oz thyme, rosemary, and sage syrup
For the syrups, bring 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water to a boil. Remove from heat and pull out half of the syrup into another pan. To the first pan, add the peel of half of a grapefruit and the peel of one whole lime to the pan. Cover and let steep for at least 2 hours.
To the second pan, add 5 stems of fresh thyme, 2 stems of fresh rosemary, and 2 stems of fresh sage and steep for up to 2 hours. Strain both syrups and store in the fridge for up to a month.
Batch Recipe for Gracious Ricky
Glass: Tom Collins or Tumbler
Served: On the Rocks
Yield: One quart
1.5 cups Bourbon
1 cup Make & Muddle 3 Herb Gracious Grapefruit*
.5 cup lime
0.25 oz water
Add all ingredients to a swing arm or empty wine/spirits bottle. Store in the fridge for up to a month. For each cocktail, add 3 oz of mix over ice and then top with seltzer.
Recipes of the month are provided by Jennifer Brian, a spirits professional, self-proclaimed Cocktail Evangelist, co-founder and owner of craft cocktail company, Make & Muddle and author of cocktail cookbook, The Classic Cocktail Revival. She is based in the bourbon epicenter of Louisville, KY.
