Cold comforts: 3 whiskey drinks to help ease you into fall

Published 3:44 pm Thursday, October 16, 2014

Fall is time for cozy comfort. Warm fires, rich food and, best of all, a well-made drink. These cool days call for the smoky, strong flavors of whiskey. So here are three drinks to help you ease into the comforts of the season. Use your favorite whiskey or bourbon for any of these recipes.

Whiskey and cider syrup

2 oz whiskey or bourbon

½ oz cider syrup

To make cider syrup, gently boil one gallon of syrup until you have about 2 cups. This will take up to two hours, but you can mostly ignore the cider during this time. Store reduced syrup covered in the fridge.

To make drink, pour syrup and bourbon over ice and stir well. Add a twist of lemon or cinnamon stick as a garnish. Note: This syrup is very sweet. Add more or less to suit your taste. The amount given here will give you a subtly flavored drink.

Adapted from Saveur

Ginger Gold Rush

1½ ounces ginger liqueur

1 ounce bourbon

½ ounce lemon juice

Brandied cherry for garnish

Combine all ingredients except cherry in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain over the cherry in a martini glass.

Adapted from Saveur

Burnt Sugar Old Fashioned

1½ ounces bourbon

¾ounce burnt sugar

Aromatic bitters

For burnt sugar, put 1/3 cup of sugar in a pan on medium heat. Let it cook without stirring. As edges brown, stir gently until the sugar is all melted and deep brown. Add 1/3 cup water, slightly lower the heat, and continue cooking until it’s smooth. Let cool before making drink. For drink, add bourbon, bitters and burnt sugar to a glass with ice. Stir. Garnish glass with orange or lemon.

Bon Appetit