GHOST OF MY PAPPY Van Winkle & Cherry Tobacco Infused Cocktail

I rather like the Fancy Free cocktail recipe I found on Serious Eats**.  I've done a couple of riffs on it too, but one day, when I was feeling especially celebratory, I decided to try a tobacco infused cocktail and went and grabbed my bottle of (cue heavenly music and little drunken angels flitting about) 23 year old Pappy. RELAX! Sanity set back in and I put My Precious back in its shrine and grabbed the 15 year Old Pap for my experiment. Sorry if I just gave any Pappy fan a heart attack, it was a momentary aberration.

 I'm thinking of buying this for my Pappy 23.
Pappy Van Winkle is the "be all, end all" bourbon. The 23 year is the penultimate bourbon lovers possession and not to be messed with. Sip it, thank the gods you are blessed to have a friend who has excellent taste, connections and a fat wallet and do not besmirch the Pappy 23 with ANYTHING. Some would be loath to use the 15 year as well, but I was treating myself. Besides, my generous, fat walleted friend always brings his own bottle and leaves me the leftovers. Leftovers, what a word to apply to old Pap.
As for the tobacco addition, it was a whim based on seeing all the buzz lately in the cocktail world about tobacco in cocktails and I was in just enough high spirits from a new design contract to go for it and risk two ounces of Pappy in the attempt. Besides, the 15 year Pappy, a wheated bourbon with a woody, brown sugar and cherry nose and a nutty, vanilla and orange taste, had the right notes to go with the tobacco and the cherry. And Pappy 23 was safely back in his secret domain, safe from any further possible insanity. Of course, what I didn't know at the time and since found out from my friend, the darned 15 year is also hard to get ahold of. Thank the gods, the cocktail turned out great and no Pappy was ruined in the process.

I want to hand out some props to my Twitter friend @TheDiveWhisperer for inspiring the name of this cocktail. I have held off posting it for want of an appropriately great name, and fear of the wrath of the Pappy community, but this gave it to me:

Yes, folks I have succeeded in bringing back the aromatic essence of my dad with this one.  I said "ghost of my father" then realized Dad was the first "Pappy"in my life so ....
GHOST of My PAPPY
Cherry Tobacco Smoked Old Pappy Cocktail

INGREDIENTS:
2 Oz. Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old Bourbon
1/4 Oz. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
1/4 Oz. Aromatic Cherry Tobacco Infusion*
2 Dashes Orange Bitters
Large Ice Sphere or Cube
Garnish:  Orange Twist, Pappy Soaked Luxardo Cherry
Glass:  Old Fashioned (Low-Ball)
Tools:  Cocktail Mister, Bar Spoon
DIRECTIONS: Prep:
In the morning of the day you are going to try this cocktail take one Luxardo Maraschino cherry (per drink) and drop it in just enough of the Pappy to cover the cherry. Let that get nice and drunker all day.  Next, prepare your cherry tobacco infusion*.
Chill your glass ahead of time in the freezer. For the Cocktail:
Mist the glass with a quick spritz of the Aromatic Cherry Tobacco Infusion. If you don't have a cocktail mister, simply wash the glass interior with the tobacco infusion.
Add your ice cube or sphere then pour in the Luxardo, then the Pappy and give this about 12 stirs with the bar spoon to chill.
Drop the orange bitters on top of the ice then garnish with the Pappy soaked Luxardo Cherry and serve.

*Aromatic Cherry Tobacco Infusion Recipe
I took a teaspoon of  Gawith Hoggarth & Co. Top Black Cherry tobacco and dropped it into a bit of Pappy in a very small glass bottle.
I let that infuse for a few hours, just until I got that hint of cherry and tobacco. I didn't want it too powerful, just enough to lend the smoky tobacco and a little extra cherry into the cocktail as a teaser. When the cherry and the tobacco hit your nose your infusion is ready.
Strain the tobacco out of the infused bourbon and pour the infusion into a cocktail mister. There should be just enough to mist two cocktails.
I loved this cocktail and I really loved how the extra Pappy, Luxardo and juice from the cherry dripped down a bit to the bottom making my last sip have a little extra kick. To be honest, I didn't get a big tobacco hit from this, a little whiff at first sip and just a little extra hint of smoke, and that's probably not such a bad thing, after the fact. Yes, at the end I also tossed back that little dram of Pappy that I soaked the Luxardo cherry in. I'm no fool.
By the way,  my above mentioned generous friend threatened to take back all of the leftovers when he heard of this "folly" and vowed never to leave a bottle in my hands again. Then I made him one and he shut up about all that nonsense. I love you, JP, but you can be a pill.

   Here's a great post on the timeline of how Pappy Van Winkle became the most popular bourbon around. 
 ** Dear Serious Eats, I love you but I will no longer link to you because all the video ads and scripts on your website crash my browser and I don't want to pass that issue on to my readers. Let me know if you ever kill them and I'll link again.
Updated 2-2019 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

CHRISTMAS GRASSHOPPER Chocolate Mint COCKTAIL RECIPE

The Grasshopper cocktail was created back in 1919 by Philbert Guichet, the owner of Tujaque's in New Orleans, as an entry for a cocktail contest in New York, and Guichet too home a second prize for his recipe. His classic Grasshopper consisted of equal parts green creme de menthe, creme de cacao and cream, shaken together with ice, then strained into a coupe.
Here I've instilled a little extra Christmas cheer by adding chocolate vodka for a much merrier holiday. Something not found in the classic Grasshopper Recipe.
Drink responsibly, no sleigh driving after these.
The
CHRISTMAS
GRASSHOPPER
INGREDIENTS: 1 Oz. Chocolate Vodka
1 Oz. White Cream de Cacao
1 Oz. Green Creme de Menthe
1 Oz. Half & Half Ice
Garnish: Simple Syrup, Chocolate Sprinkles
Glass: Coupe or Cocktail (Martini) Glass
Tools: Cocktail shaker

DIRECTIONS:
Dip the rim of your cocktail glass into simple syrup, then dip into the chocolate sprinkles.
Chill the glass in the freezer.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the chocolate vodka, creme de cacao, creme de menthe and half & half and shake until well chilled. Strain into your chilled glass and serve.
Feel free to add a fresh mint garnish if you like. I actually forgot about my mint because it's in my little greenhouse being protected for winter!

Updated 11-2018

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My take on the Moscow Mule? The TIJUANA JACKASS

 
Inspired by all the chatter lately on  the Moscow Mule, I decided to do my own version, only I left the cold of Russia and sauntered down to sunny Mexico with a tequila version. I really don't get the fascination with a Moscow Mule, it's not a bad drink if you like ginger beer because, vodka being pretty neutral, that's pretty much what you'll taste along with the small part of lime. Toxic copper mugs aside, it's high octane ginger beer with a squeeze of lime and I don't really like ginger beer. Add to that the fact that the Moscow Mule was created solely as a marketing ploy to sell vodka and ginger beer, and kind of I lose interest.

But, with all the hooplah about it lately in the booze community I thought I'd have a go at it to suit myself and my desert environment. So, the first thing I did was remove the ginger beer and vodka and replace it with ginger ale and tequila.
Bye bye, Moscow Mule. Hello, Tijuana Jackass!

Yes, I went there.

The
TIJUANA JACKASS A Tucson Twist
INGREDIENTS
1-1/2 Oz. Anejo Tequila 2 Oz. Fresh Watermelon Juice
1/2 Oz. Fresh Citrus Juice
1/2 Oz. Agave Syrup
Ginger Ale
Grapefruit Bitters
Ice

GARNISH: Wild Hibiscus Salt Flakes, Citrus Wheel

GLASS: Highball, Pint

TOOLS: Cocktail Shaker, Strainer

DIRECTIONS:
Rub glass rim with citrus, dip in the hibiscus salt flakes, chill your glass in the freezer. Hand squeeze the watermelon juice. Yes, you can use a juicer.
Add the ingredients, except the ginger ale, to an iced filled cocktail shaker, shake until icy cold then strain into the chilled glass. Top off with ginger ale, stir, add a straw if desired.
Garnish and serve.

Salude, M'Dears. 3-2019 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

THE APPLE MARTINI - A Cocktail Classic

  Make fun of them it all you want, call it a "girlie" drink and "not really a martini" (which, of course, it's not), laugh at me all you want,BUT .... I LIKE APPLE MARTINIS!   So there! You can play cocktail snob all you want and prattle on about "bespoke" cocktail recipes and the latest obscure liquor find you've tripped over but you can't take it away from me, I like Apple Martinis. They taste like the Sour Apple Jolly Rancher candy I loved as a kid but they have the added grown-up benefit of booze.  As an adult I like being able to enjoy something I loved as a kid in a higher proof version. I always keep the ingredients stocked in my bar and make myself an Apple Martini every so often. It's great served with some onion crackers and smoked Gouda cheese.   I believe happy hour is a personal experience, a ritual everyone observes in their own way. I don't believe any cocktail you enjoy drinking is "wrong" - even those made with my personal anathema, high-sugar and chemical laden cocktail mixes.  If you like them, you're entitled to drink them (no matter how much crap they load into your body.)   I believe in fresh ingredients, high quality ingredients and I try to share my philosophy with others so their cocktail hour is a heightened experience. (I even wrote a book about this whole happy hour attitude called The ZEN of COCKTAILS.)  BUT I will not call you out if you just love a can of margarita, a bottle of pop wine or whatever you choose to drink. I might tease you a bit and try to cajole you into trying one of my own "bespoke" cocktails but I will not make you feel bad. That's just not zen, or cool.   I've decided to re-post my Apple Martini recipe. It is my number two most popular recipe, second only to my classic Chocolate Martini and deserves to be back in the public eye. The only thing I've ever changed is the cherry. Instead of those awful grocery store Maraschino cherries I now only use my own homemade ones.  

THE APPLE MARTINI   INGREDIENTS: 1 Ounce of Vodka 1 Ounce of Sour Apple Pucker 1 Ounce of Apple Juice   Garnish: One Slice of Green Apple, One Homemade Maraschino Cherry    Tools: Cocktail Shaker   Glass: Cocktail or Martini
DIRECTIONS: Chill your glass in the freezer while you prepare your cocktail. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice then add the vodka, sour apple pucker and the apple juice. Shake until well chilled then strain into your cocktail glass. Garnish and serve and enjoy with defiance.
VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:

  GET THIS COCKTAIL RECIPE DESIGN ON TEES & CLOTHING, POSTERS & PRINTS, PARTY SUPPLIES, STICKERS & CARDS:

    Updated 10-2025 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY  

CHOCOLATE BOURBON EGGNOG COCKTAIL RECIPE for the Holidays

I'm going to be completely up front here, I stole this whole recipe from Alton Brown. Well, almost. I cheated and used eggnog I bought from the store because I'm not Alton Brown. And I made it chocolate. And I used a different (and more) booze. And I'm lazy and I didn't have time for homemade eggnog because a couple of friends stopped by with a bottle of what they called "bourbon" that was actually a bourbon liqueur called Sweet Lucy.

I expected bourbon, I got a sweet liqueur. So I had to adjust dear Alton's recipe a wee bit.
The Not Quite CHOCOLATE BOURBON EGGNOG RECIPE almost, but not quite, stolen from Alton Brown Recipe makes 4 cocktails 
INGREDIENTS: 3 Ounces of Sweet Lucy Bourbon Liqueur 2 Ounces of Maker's Mark Bourbon 2 Cups of Prepared Eggnog (Make it or buy it, your choice) 3 Tablespoons of Dark Chocolate Syrup* Ice
GARNISH: Powdered Dark Chocolate Cocoa, Cardamom and Nutmeg, Cinnamon Stick
GLASS: Mug
TOOLS:  Cocktail shaker
DIRECTIONS:  Fill your cocktail shaker with ice and add the Sweet Lucy, Maker's Mark, the eggnog and the chocolate syrup and shake until nicely chilled. Pour into your cocktail glass and garnish with a dusting of each of the powders (dark cocoa, cardamom, nutmeg), add a cinnamon stick and serve.
* Homemade Dark Chocolate Syrup Recipe: I prepared my own Dark Chocolate Syrup by taking 1/4 cup of Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa Powder and mixing it with 1/2 a cup of milk, a pinch of salt, 1/2 cup of sugar (I wanted a BITTER chocolate syrup to balance the sweet bourbon liqueur. If your want regular syrup you need to double the sugar.) and several hearty dashes of Frappe & Sons Chocolate Bitters and a few of their Coffee Bitters. I brought this all to a quick boil, immediately reduced the heat and simmered until it thickened then allowed it to cool in the fridge.
Dear Alton, yes, I cheated and messed with your recipe. I'm dangerous that way.
Updated 11-2018 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY COCKTAIL & LIQUEUR RECIPES

 Is your Christmas Tree up? How about your Hanukkah Menorah or your Kwanzaa candles? Are you ready for the holidays? Shopping done? You may think you're ready but you're not until you've got your cocktail cheer on!
Here's EVERY. SINGLE. HOLIDAY. COCKTAIL. I've ever concocted and enjoyed as I waited for Santa's bounty to drop down my chimney. Don't bother counting, there's over 50 seasonal drinks here at last count and each year it grows.
Okay, I live in Tucson and I don't have a chimney, but I never celebrate the holidays without some kind of seasonal libation and I give homemade holiday booze to literally everyone on my list, naughty or nice. (The naughty ones get two bottles!)
With this comprehensive database of holiday drinks and liquor recipes, you can spread the holiday cheer as well. In fact there's enough for you to try out a different cocktail twice a day for the whole month of December.
I'm sure I'll add more, I always have to do one or two new cocktails of cheer each year so bookmark and save this page.

CHRISTMAS COCKTAILS & HOMEMADE LIQUEURS
  CANDY CANE MARTINI CHOCOLATE BOURBON EGGNOG CHOCOLATE CANDY CANE VODKA CHRISTMAS CANDY LIQUEUR CHRISTMAS GRASSHOPPER  CRANAPPLE PUNCH DRUNK ELF ON A SHELF FROSTY MARTINIGINGERBREAD MARTINI GINGERBREAD COCKTAILS AND LIQUEUR RECIPE GINGERBREAD LATTE COCKTAIL HOT BUTTERED WHISKEY HOT, SPICED, SPIKED, ORANGE CRANBERRY PUNCH MULLED APPLE CIDER  PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR MARTINI  PEPPERMINT PATTY COCKTAIL PEPPERMINT LATTE COCKTAIL
SANTA'S COOKIES & MILK COCKTAIL
SAUCY CHRISTMAS CRANTINI SPARKLING CRANBERRY CRUSH SPARKLING HIBISCUS MARTINI WHITE CHOCOLATE WINTER SOLSTICE COCKTAIL WHITE CHRISMTAS EGGNOG MARTINI
HOLIDAY COCKTAILS BY FLAVOR
APPLE COCKTAILS CRANBERRY COCKTAILS EGGNOG COCKTAILS GINGERBREAD DRINKABLES
POMEGRANATE COCKTAILS
PUMPKIN COCKTAILS

THE CHRISTMAS MARTINI ARCHIVES ANGEL'S KISS
CHRISTMAS COSMO
CHRISTMAS CRANAPPLE MARTINI
CHOCOLATE MERRIMINT MARTINI
FRUITCAKE MARTINI
GINGERBREAD MAN MARTINI
HAPPY ELF MARTINI
HO HO HO MARTINI HOLLY BERRY MARTINI
HOT BUTTERED RUM
JINGLE BELLS MARTINI
JOLLY SANTA MARTINI MERRY CHERRY MISTLETINI
MERRY MELON MARTINI
MISTLETINI
MULLED CIDER MARTINI PEPPERMINT PATTY MARTINI
RUDOLF'S REINDEER MARTINI
SNOWBALL MARTINI
WINTER APPLE MINT MARTINI
WINTER SNOWFLAKE MARTINI
 
You'll find many of the above Christmas Martini Recipes as well as some holiday trivia and merry martini making tips in my MERRY MARTINI MIXOLOGY BOOK

Updated 12-2018 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

COOKIES and MILK SHOT COCKTAIL for SANTA CLAUS

On Christmas Eve instead of putting out a plate of cookies and milk why don't you give Santa some real Christmas cheer? I'll bet it will improve the quantity and quality of the presents under your tree and in your stockings come Christmas morning.

 

Nothing says "gimme better swag" than a nice shot of booze waiting at the bottom of that chimney . . .

SANTA'S

COOKIES & "MILK"

SHOT
(The Jolly Old Elf is gonna LOVE you this year!)

INGREDIENTS
1/2 Oz. Coffee Liqueur
1/2 Oz. Irish Cream

1 Oz. Whiskey

GARNISH: Crushed Christmas Cookies Rim

DIRECTIONS:
Dip the rim of your glass in some of the Irish Cream and then into assorted crushed Christmas cookies - I use a combination of Oreos, sugar cookies and gingerbread men.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice then add the coffee liqueur, vodka and cream and shake until chilled.
Pour into your glass then slide add a mini chocolate candy cane for good measure. Set on a tray with some of the same cookies gor Santa's arrival.

VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS: 

P.S. Merry Christmas and I get 10% of your present haul if this works.

Updated 12-2021

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