Comments on: Whiskey cocktails

By: Phyllis

Phyllis — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:02:43 +0000

Another funny thing about bitters is that one bottle can easily last longer than most marriages.

By: Fever

Fever — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:33:33 +0000

Oooh, blood orange bitters. Have not tried those. Note to self…..

By: Dr. Brazen Hussy

Dr. Brazen Hussy — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:26:18 +0000

Manhattans are better with blood orange bitters.

By: raincoaster

raincoaster — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:41:33 +0000

American rye? Who ever HEARD of such a thing?

All of these cocktails are tasty, whether with rye or with bourbon, but a Jack Daniels Manhattan, 2:1, is just about as good as a cocktail can get.

There’s a great line from some ancient slapstick movie whose title I cannot remember. The guy who played Mr. Howell on Gilligan’s island was (again) a blithe rich twit, in this case at the controls of a private plane. He gets up to refresh his drink and hands a youthful Mickey Rooney the controls. Rooney squeaks, “But what if something goes wrong?”

He replies, “What could go wrong? It’s an Old Fashioned!”

By: Fever

Fever — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:56:24 +0000

I beg to differ on a couple of issues. Bitters is an excellent flavoring for an old-fashioned, or a manhattan. If you choose not to sully an excellent whiskey, either do not use one, or just drink it neat the way God intended. In terms of rye for these drinks, that is an East Coast preference. Anchor Brewing notwithstanding, the West Coast has always been a bourbon coast, not a rye coast. In some heathenish areas of the country, they will also make these drinks with brandy.

By: Alison

Alison — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:06:59 +0000

I recently searched for bitters in Chapel Hill, N.C. (where I live and work). The slightly uppity grocery stores did not carry them, but on the shelves of the humble Food Lion I found a bottle.

By: Long Island

Long Island — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:47:10 +0000

Sounds like they shared a very similar health plan.

And yes drinks were always before dinner. Rarely after. The exception was a party.

By: Mr. Henry

Mr. Henry — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:40:08 +0000

Mr. Henry’s Irish grandfather drank bourbon or rye every day of his life, too. He smoked cigarettes for 60 years, lived principally on eggs, steak (topped with a big pat of butter), mashed potatoes and ice cream.

With his drinking, however, he had a firm rule: Drinks before dinner, usually two, and nothing after dinner.

By: Long Island

Long Island — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:34:17 +0000

My Grandfather-in-law, a Southern and life long rye and bourbon drinker, always stated the practice of adding bitters to whiskey began with the Prohibition. The liquor then consumed was often “home” produced and the bitters were needed to make the drink palatable. He agreed with you that good liquor should never be be tainted with additives.

BTW he drank bourbon (only 2 drinks per day) pretty much until he died at the age of 92. So maybe your rye drinking this week will prolong your life.

Cheers!