HOW TO MAKE A “VERANDA”

In the tradition of the Southeast US, aka the “Deep South,” a veranda is a porch that wraps partially or wholly around the ground floor of a house. They’re best used for lounging on lazy afternoons with some bourbon and watching the sun set to the soundtrack of crickets, horses, and an old phonograph. This cocktail, likewise, is perfect for all of those things.

VERANDA COCKTAIL

2 oz Abbott & Wallace Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey

0.75 oz Lemon Juice

0.5 oz Molasses Syrup (recipe below)

2 dashes Lavender Bitters (but Orange Bitters will do)

-Combine all in a shaker and shake hard with ice. Strain and serve up.

Cheers!

MOLASSES SYRUP

Molasses is a byproduct of sugar refining. More accurately, it’s the very end run of turning sugar cane juice into sugar, so it’s thick and sweet, but it’s also salty, savory, and funky. We cut ours with water to use at the bar. It pours easier, measures more accurately, and isn’t quite so strong of a flavor.

2 Cups Nearly Boiling Water

1 Cup Unsulfered Molasses

-Heat water in pot on stove. Add molasses (make sure you scrape as much as possible into the pot). Stir until it’s an even consistency and let cool.  If you need it to last longer than a week, and won’t give it to any kids, add 1 oz of Vodka to the bottle or jar.