We’ve come a long way, baby! Gone are the “Mad Men” days of whiskey being a just a man’s drink, straight on the rocks.
Whiskey sales are on the rise, and women are contributing to that rise. Last year, whiskey sales were nearly $4 billions which is an increase over the $3.5 billion dollars in sales in 2013, according to recent figures released by Nielsen research. What’s different this year? Mixologists are being credited for this growing trend as they craft cocktails that complement the whiskey flavor with a plethora of other ingredients, whether its syrups, fruit juices, vermouth or even tea.
“People are drinking less wine and more whiskey, and women have become more inclined to give whiskey a try,” says Steven Earles, CEO of Portland -based Eastside Distilling, whose company already experiments with a variety of flavors in its drinks, such as Cherry Bomb Whiskey and Oregon Marionberry Whiskey.
North Carolina’s TOPO Organics Distillery in Chapel Hill, N.C. released the Carolina whiskey at the end of 2014, and it also sells a DIY-TOPO Whiskey kit for at-home distilling.
“Brown spirits are really hot both domestically and internationally, and mixologists are making more and more inventive whiskey-based cocktails, ” commented Esteban McMahan, TOPO Organics Distillery’s Spirit Guide. ” My favorite whiskey cocktails are the “Orange County” served at the Top of the Hill Restaurant in Chapel Hill, which includes TOPO Eight Oak, apricot brandy, vermouth & bitters.” In order to give whiskey in the bar a boost, some restaurants are now promoting “Whiskey Wednesdays” to feature cocktails. From innovative drinks like New Fashioned and The Sidebar, whiskey is becoming center stage on the bar menu.
The classic whiskey cocktail may the Old-Fashioned, which has been around since the late 19th Century, but now is the time to created new classics. Try this new whiskey cocktail by Eastside Distilling for your next cocktail party.
• Earl’s Demise
25 oz. Cherry Bomb Whiskey (one 750ML bottle)
12.5 oz. Burnside Bourbon
75 oz. Smith Teamaker Earl Grey Tea (chilled)
25 oz. Orange juice
25 oz. Simple syrup
12.5 oz. Sweet vermouth
5 tablespoons Peychaud’s Bitters
Mix all the ingredients in a large punch bowl, then add ice or ice ring. Serve in small punch glasses. The mixture serves 10-12 people.
For more recipes for your at-home bar, visit Eastside Distilling and TOPO Organic Spirits for the latest mixology recipes featuring whiskey.
Post by Leigh Hines
“I live like a tourist in my hometown and my dream is to travel the world one luxury hotel at the time. If you love traveling as much as I do, subscribe to Skimbaco Travel, and never miss any travel content from our site.” Leigh Hines of Hines Sight Blog
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