Bourbon and Rye Cocktails

24 Apr 2014
|
2 min read
Celebrating two years of having a distilling license in Washington State, Heritage Distilling Company gave FOUR some cocktail recipes from their recently launched Elk Rider Bourbon and Elk Rider Rye, the distillery’s first aged bourbon and rye products.
Elk Rider Rye

The Elk Rider Rye is a 95% rye and 5% malted barley mash bill, proofed to 92/46% alcohol by volume and aged less than 2 years in new charred oak barrels. First nose of Elk Rider Rye reveals notes of citrus, clove and caramel followed by tobacco, toffee, and black pepper. The pallet presents a smooth uniform coating across the middle range of the tongue blending into slight high notes of sweetness across the pallet. Flavorful notes of orange, clove, honey and pepper cascade across the pallet. Elk Rider Rye ends with a lingering finish of classic rye notes with just the right balance of pepper and spice. Incredibly smooth for a 92 proof rye whiskey.

Elk Rider Bourbon

Elk Rider Bourbon is a 65% corn and 35% rye mash bill, proofed to 92/46% alcohol by volume and aged less than 2 years in new charred oak barrels. First look at the Elk Rider Bourbon shows a deep rich caramel color with amber hues, it’s crystal clear and inviting. Take a whiff and find subtle notes of vanilla bean, banana, caramel, and unrefined honey. The pallet presents a silky, creamy texture evenly balanced with just the right amount of viscosity across the tongue. Rolling the bourbon around on the pallet gives the sense of a slight tingle expected from the alcohol sensation in whiskey, given the proof level, this is expected, mild, and pleasing. Once the alcohol sensation disappears, the sample slips into a high, sweet center. Elk Rider Bourbon provides a lingering finish with distinct notes of honey, caramel, walnut, plantain, oak, and berries without too much woodiness showing through. Incredibly smooth for high proof whiskey, without too much sweetness inherent in some American bourbons.

Cocktails

HDC Manhattan

2 oz HDC Elk Rider Bourbon
.75 oz Sweet Vermouth
2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
Garnish with a cherry

Stir and serve over ice or up.

HDC Old Fashioned

2 oz HDC Elk Rider Rye
Sugar Cube
2-3 dashes Peychaud bitters
Orange slice
cherry
Soak sugar cube with bitters and muddle orange, cherry, and bitters soaked sugar. Top with ice cubes and rye. Stir. Serve with a lemon slice garnish.

HDC Mint Julep

2.5 oz HDC Elk Rider Bourbon
Fresh Mint
Sugar cube
Crushed ice

Fill mint julep cup half full of crushed ice, place one mint leaf, and fill the rest of the cup to ½ inch above the rim with ice. Cut straw so that the top will be near the top of the ice. Muddle sugar and mind together and stir Elk Rider Bourbon. Strain over ice (topping with more ice if needed) and garnish with mint leaves. Sip out of the straw so that aromas of mint are mixed with flavors of bourbon.