Living in the middle of the pandemic has changed how we socialize completely. One of the things I miss about ‘normal life’ prior to COVID is going to happy hour with friends. It was easy to schedule plans with a friend or coworker after a long day of work, or even just to get out of the house. Now that we are at home (at least I am), I’ve had to create my own happy hour, which is whatever time I please, because it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere!
Typically, I am a wine girl but when it comes to cocktails, I will drink whatever the bartender suggests as long as it’s not vodka (bad experience) AND as long as it tastes good, which is the goal with anything that includes alcohol. I have a 2 cocktail maximum these days and I want my 2 cocktails to be something that I really enjoy. I recently tried Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and enjoyed it so I wanted to share some recipes with you and tell you the story behind the award winning Premium Whiskey.
A Short Story…
It’s a story about a former slave, Nathan “Nearest” Green that became the first known black master distiller. He helped to perfect what is now called the “Lincoln County” process where whiskey is filtered through sugar maple charcoal prior to aging in charcoal barrels – a process that defines Tennessee Whiskey, that is still followed today and taught his craft to others!
The Whiskey…
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1856 Premium Aged Whiskey – premium aged whiskies between 8 and 14 years old. Bold and spicy upfront then mellows with sweet caramel and maple, like biting into an oatmeal raisin cookie. The finish is long and rich. It lingers pleasantly sweet on the palate with notes of vanilla after the spice dissipates.
Uncle Nearest Cocktail Recipes
The Fall Classic
Erica Mota, Nettbar, Houston, TX
The Ingredients
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1.5 oz Uncle Nearest 1884
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.5 oz Domaine De Canton ginger liquer
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1 bar spoon of sour cherry jam
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1 dash cinnamon
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.5 oz simple syrup
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.5 oz lemon juice
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1 dash cherry bitters
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Luxardo cherry
The Method
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake well and strain into glass and garnish with cherry.
Spicy Lady
Frida Cantina / Beverly Hills, CA
The Ingredients
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Muddle 1 Slice of Jalapeno
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2 oz Uncle Nearest 1884
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0.75 oz lime juice
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0.5 oz blood orange
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0.5 oz agave
The Method
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake well, strain over fresh ice. Served in a rocks glass with a half rim of special chipotle sea salt, garnish with blood orange segment.
Uncle Fizz
Matt Ryan, Atria, Edgartown, MA
The Ingredients
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2 oz Uncle Nearest 1884
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1 oz apple juice
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0.25 oz lemon juice
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1 egg white
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Ginger beer to fill
The Method
(My personal fav!)
Combine all, except ginger beer in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake well. Fill glass with ice add ginger beer, then strain cocktail into glass.
Nearest To Happiness
Jay Madison, One Flew South, Atlanta, GA
The Ingredients
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1.5 oz Uncle Nearest
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0.5 oz Lillet Rouge
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0.5 oz lemon juice
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0.5 oz simple syrup
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3-4 blueberries
The Method
Muddle blueberries, combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake well and pour into rocks glass. Garnish with 3 blueberries and a mint leaf.
Cheers To A Happy Hour At Home!
