Alchemix Bar

Creating and Learning About Craft Cocktails

Irish

The Declaration, A Spirit Forward Irish Whiskey Cocktail

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We recently collected five varieties of Jameson Irish Whiskey for an upcoming Tasting Room episode.

Since we have this surplus I figured it would be fun to try a drink I’d never heard of using Irish whiskey since St. Patrick’s Day is coming up.

After searching through a few of the books we have, then turning to a google search, I found the Declaration, which seemed like a whiskey cocktail I could enjoy.

Of all the different whiskey varieties, Irish is one of my favorites because it is a little smoother and more mellow than the others, in my experience. So, I figured I’d enjoy this spirit-forward cocktail more than a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned.

The Declaration
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The Declaration

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Carl Busch Course: BeverageCuisine: IrishDifficulty: Easy
Servings

1

servings
Prep time

2

minutes
Cooking time

1

minute

An Irish cocktail with honey and dry vermouth.

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1.5 ounces 1.5 Irish Whiskey

  • .5 ounce .5 Honey Syrup

  • .75 ounce .75 Dry Vermouth

  • 1 Barspoon 1 Lemon Juice

  • 1 Dash 1 Angostura Bitters

  • 2 Dashes 2 Orange Bitters

Directions

  • Place all ingredients in a mixing glass
  • Add ice
  • Stir for 30 seconds
  • Strain into a coupe glass
  • Garnish with a lemon twist

The fact that we already had all of the ingredients to make the cocktail was a notable bonus.

The most significant decision I had to make for this cocktail is which Irish whiskey to use. I had 5 Jameson varieties, Powers Three Swallow and Finagrens, as available options.

So, I had to figure out which one would go best with the other cocktail elements.

The cocktail starts with lemon and honey, which are perfect with tea or whiskey.

Then dry vermouth, Angostura bitters, and orange bitters are added to balance and lengthen the cocktail.

So, Carl and I chatted for a bit about the best spirit options of the ones we had available.

Carl suggested using Jamison’s Cooper’s Croze because the prominent fruit and vanilla flavors would play nicely with the other ingredients.

I don’t usually like to admit when he’s right, but he was this time. The cocktail was fresh and balanced. It wasn’t overly boozy while still packing the punch I expected from a spirit-forward beverage.

The Declaration is a deliciously simple cocktail to build, using just a few ingredients.

Bar Breaker, Jameson Old Fashioned

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They call me the bar breaker. You should kick me out the club. I’m a big bad wolf. I’m a Jameson thug.

Today’s cocktail is Bar Breaker, a Jameson Old Fashioned.

Bar Breaker
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Bar Breaker

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Carl Busch Course: BeverageCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

1

servings
Prep time

2

minutes
Cooking time

1

minute

An Irish Whiskey Old Fashioned using Jameson Black Barrel

Ingredients

  • 2 Dashes 2 Bittermens Ginger Bitters

  • 1 Dash 1 Orange Bitters

  • 1 Dash 1 Angostura Bitters

  • 2 Ounces 2 Jameson Black Barrel

  • .25 Ounce .25 Rich Demerara Syrup

Directions

  • Add bitters and syrup in your Double Rocks Glass
  • Add large ice cube
  • Add the Jameson Black Barrel
  • Stir for 10 seconds
  • Garnish with an orange twist

How Did I Create the Bar Breaker Cocktail

One day, I was perusing the shelves of a local liquor store and found a bottle of Jameson Black Barrel and thought, “I could do something with this!” When I buy Jameson, the first thought that comes to my mind is Prof. Prof is an independent rapper from Minneapolis who should be sponsored by Jameson because several of his songs, videos, and photos have lyrics featuring this Irish whiskey.

My wife and I have been fans of Prof for the past six years. We’ve gone to see more than 12 of his live shows because of his energy, stage presence, and his obvious love for the music.

When I used the Jameson Black Barrel to create a variation of an old fashioned, Prof songs got stuck in my head. Taking that inspiration, I made Bar Breaker, named after the song on his 2015 Liability album.

Like Prof, I wanted the drink to have a great presence and hold up on its own. That’s why the Jameson Black Barrel caught my eye. The double char notes of vanilla and nut make it a great base spirit for an old fashioned variation.

Demerara sugar has excellent notes of toffee and caramel that enhance the Jameson but doesn’t overly sweeten it. For this cocktail, you can choose either make demerara simple syrup or use a cube. Either way works just fine, but for mine, I made the simple syrup.

To help give this Jameson Old Fashion some depth, I use ginger bitters, orange bitters, and Angostura bitters. The ginger bitters add a little snap and spice.

For garnish, just a simple lemon twist gives the drink a citrus bite while complementing the ginger bitters.

Music has always been a massive part of my life. Lyrics, guitar riffs, baselines, really anything music involved has inspired me at one time or another. You will probably begin to notice that many Alchemix Bar Original cocktails are going to have music ties in one way or another.

Use whatever inspires you in life and create your voice.