The Bitter Irishman

The Bitter Irishman
  • Yield:1 cocktail
  • Active time:5 minutes
  • Total time:5 minutes
  • Rated: 4.0

[Photo: Elana Lepkowski]

This St. Patrick's Day-appropriate cocktail is way better than green beer. The whiskey is light and almost floral, and the amaro is spicy and rich. Fresh lemon gives the drink a punch of refreshing sour flavor, and the drink finishes up with the whiskey's bite and a little bitterness from the amaro. If you can find Luxardo cherries, they're worth the expense, and delicious on all sorts of cocktails.

Note: To make demerara syrup, combine 1 cup water with 1 cup demerara sugar in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Cool before using. Simple syrup will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce Irish whiskey, such as Bushmills 10
  • 1 ounce Averna
  • 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed juice from 1 lemon
  • 1/4 ounce demerara syrup (see note)
  • Luxardo cherry, for garnish

Directions

  1. 1.

    Combine whiskey, Averna, lemon juice, and syrup together in a shaker filled 2/3 with ice. Shake until thoroughly chilled, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with cherry and serve.