The Boulevardier is, as I write this, becoming my new cocktail favorite of the moment, which is making typing difficult because I have to put down the glass. The silver lining to Borders closing up shop is that I picked up The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Bartending for cheap, and the Boulevardier popped off the page because I’d ordered it in a restaurant bar once upon a time. I can’t remember the name of the restaurant or any reaction to the Boulevardier. But I’m reacting to it now.
A little tour of the blog circuit turned up an article by Doctor Cocktail (Tim Haigh) from Imbibe that seemed to be referenced by all of the bloggers. (Yes, I know it’s hard to believe that there are other liquor bloggers on Earth.) Dr. Cocktail tells us that the drink was a creation of the famous prohibition era bartender Harry McElhone – seems like a lotta guys were named Harry back then – who was forced overseas to find a legal job. Harry took a Negroni, swapped out gin for American Bourbon and had himself a hit.
My Recipe
2 oz. Bourbon
1 oz. Campari
1 oz. Sweet Vermouth
Cherry with three drops of cherry juice
I used Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Bourbon, but in the future I’d opt for a younger, spicier bourbon to hold its own against the Campari. With the second go around, I backed off on the Campari to 3/4 oz. to let the bourbon step up. I didn’t have any eggs tonight, but I’m planning an addendum to this post for tomorrow with an egg white. I think the beautiful ruby color would be well suited to lightening and softening with the egg white – like a colored Easter egg.
Update: I used half an egg white in the next incarnation of the Boulevardier and shook that baby till I had to peel my frozen hands off of the frosty metal. Nice froth and the color did lighten and soften – but what I imagined looking elegant just turned out looking like a chick drink and tasting like a man drink. So nobody’s happy.
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Thomas A. Edison
Let’s call it whiskey magic….No Irish in me, but I’m one to respect other cultures. That day for me was Jameson Irish Whiskey. Nothin’ special but I like the Jameson. My friend and I opened that 750 together and cheered the last drop together. One day you and I will have to split a bottle of something. There is a bond when two men drink an entire bottle of whiskey together.
every so often, i’ve been tossing a few bucks in an empty tin that a bottle of glenfiddich 15 came in. we’ll split some good stuff next time i’m back east. there are a lot of toasts in a bottle of whiskey and we’ll toast each and every one of them down to the last drop (including a new little niece or nephew for you). the closer we get to the bottom of the bottle, the the more creative the toasts will get.
qjX8QR Got it! Thanks a lot again for helping me out!