The key to a great bourbon cocktail is to produce a drink which complements the flavor profile of the bourbon and doesn’t mask it. After all, we’re not talking about any old hooch here. Bourbon is the all-American spirit created and made in the United States of America. It truly is our contribution to the world of distilled spirits.Author Steve Akley has gathered 50 unique bourbon cocktails from 50 iconic bars. In fact, it’s actually 53 unique cocktails from 52 iconic bars but that title just didn’t sound as good. One submitted two cocktails that fit in its chapter and two other locations submitted cocktails after the book was complete but prior to the final layout being completed. Steve elected to include them and figures they are a great “value add” taking the cocktail count beyond the stated amount.By the way, we’re not talking the “same old/same old” here. We’re talking about signature cocktails from some of the greatest drinking establishments in the United States.Take a look at this lineup of participants:Bale of Hay Saloon/Virgina City, MontanaBig Star/Chicago, IllinoisBourbons Bistro/Louisville, KentuckyBourbon and Branch/San Francisco, CaliforniaBourbon House/New Orleans, LouisianaBub City/Chicago, IllinoisBuckhorn Exchange/Denver, ColoradoBuffalo Bodega Gaming Complex/Deadwood, South DakotaButter Run Saloon/St. Clair Shores, MichiganDown One Bourbon Bar and Restaurant/Louisville, KentuckyE. Smith Mercantile/Seattle, WashingtonEl Gaucho/Seattle, WashingtonEl Moro Spirits & Tavern/Durango, ColoradoEquus and Jack’s Lounge/Louisville, KentuckyThe Esquire Tavern/San Antonio, TexasFAR BAR/Los Angeles, CalforniaForbidden Island Tiki Lounge/Alameda, CaliforniaGallagher’s Restaurant/Waterloo, IllinoisHard Water/San Francisco, CaliforniaHerbie’s Vintage 72/St. Louis, MissouriJack Rose Dining Saloon/Washington, DCMartin’s Tavern/Washington, DCMike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood/St. Louis, MissouriMiller House/Owensboro, KentuckyMongoose versus Cobra/Houston, Texas9th Street Public House/Columbia, MissouriOld Ebbitt Grill/Washington, DCOld Major/Denver, ColoradoParlay Social/Lexington, KentuckyParson’s Chicken and Fish/Chicago, ILPeacock Alley/Bismarck, North DakotaThe Pope House Bourbon Lounge/Portland, OregonThe Porthole Restaurant and Pub/Portland, MaineRed Moon/Put-in-Bay, OhioThe Roosevelt/Richmond, VirginiaThe Round Robin Bar at Intercontinental The Willard/Washington, DCSable Kitchen & Bar/Chicago, IllinoisSanctuaria Wild Tapas/St. Louis, MissouriSeviche, A Latin Restaurant/Louisville, KentuckySloppy Joe’s/Key West, FloridaSt. Charles Exchange/Louisville, KentuckyThe Sugar House/Detroit MichiganTalbott Tavern/Bardstown, KentuckyThe Tavern In Old Salem/Salem, North CarolinaTonga Hut/Palm Springs, CaliforniaThe West End Tavern/Boulder, ColoradoWhiskey Bar/Milwaukee, WisconsinWhiskey Kitchen/Nashville, TennesseeWindmill Lounge/Dallas TexasWiseguy Lounge at Goodfellas Pizzeria/Covington, KentuckyBring home the spirit of these iconic bars by recreating their signature bourbon cocktail by picking up a copy of this edition of Bourbon Mixology!
