Bourbon and fresh lemon juice play off the sweet-and-spicy tanginess of Bloody Blue Ridge in this rich seasonal cocktail.
Full disclosure: this isn't a Bloody Mary. It's its own thing - a complex cocktail of warming bourbon, tart lemon, sweet maple, and tangy Bloody Blue Ridge. It's one of our house favorites during the colder months, and it's perfect for holiday entertaining!
Ingredients (serves 2)
Our mix of choice: Bloody Blue Ridge (Click here to snag some!)
2 oz bourbon
1/2 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice, plus more to balance
Just a splash of maple, hickory, or sorghum syrup
Slice and lemon, for garnish
Bacon-Wrapped Dates (or just bacon), for garnish
Method
Fill a shaker or mixing glass with ice. Combine the bourbon, lemon juice, and syrup and stir until very cold. Strain into two rocks glasses over fresh ice. Top with 1-2 ounces of Bloody Blue Ridge, just enough to change the color to a ruddy-red; remember that it's a bourbon cocktail, not a true Bloody Mary. Stir, taste, and balance with a splash more lemon juice, if necessary. Garnish with lemon, and something fatty and delicious, like bacon -- or even better, a bacon-wrapped date.
