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Epicurious

Billionaire Cocktail

This cocktail was created in a flash of inspiration to showcase overproof whiskey by offsetting it with wonderfully lush and flavorful ingredients. Strong Baker’s 107-proof bourbon serves as the backbone to the cocktail, providing vigor and heat. This is balanced with our rich homemade grenadine and fresh lemon juice to give a delightful sweet-and-sour balance. The Absinthe Bitters’ anise essence rounds out the cocktail, giving it a classic feel and third dimension. After conceiving the recipe, we were stumped for a name until we realized it was quite similar to a version of the Prohibition classic Millionaire Cocktail (page 66). Because of inflation and the fact that ours is a “richer” cocktail, we named it the Billionaire Cocktail.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 1 drink

Ingredients

2 ounces Baker’s 107-proof bourbon
1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup (page 154)
1/2 ounce homemade Grenadine (page 157)
1/4 ounce Absinthe Bitters (page 161)
1 lemon wheel, for garnish

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Pour the bourbon, juice, syrup, grenadine, and bitters into a mixing glass. Add large cold ice cubes and shake vigorously for 8 to 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with the lemon wheel.

  2. tasting notes

    Step 2

    Dominant Flavors: whiskey forward, with pomegranate molasses

    Step 3

    Body: crisp, medium to full due to high proof whiskey

    Step 4

    Dryness: medium

    Step 5

    Complexity: high, rich flavors

    Step 6

    Accentuating or Contrasting Flavors: absinthe Bitters contrast pomegranate and whiskey

    Step 7

    Finish: long with lingering tannins and pomegranate overtones

  3. Step 8

    Glass: cocktail

Cover of Speakeasy by Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric featuring a coupe glass with a brown cocktail and lemon wheel garnish.
Reprinted with permission from Speakeasy: The Employees Only Guide to Classic Cocktails Reimagined by Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric, © 2010 Ten Speed Press. Buy the full book from Amazon or Bookshop.
TagsCocktailAlcoholBeveragesBourbonWhiskeyGrenadineEasyQuickCookbooks
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