10 Boulevardier Renditions You Need to Make for Negroni Week
Hey there, I’m Miguel of @holycityhandcraft - welcome to this new cocktail series entitled ‘Bartenders + Boulevardiers’! In this new series sponsored by Coopers’ Craft Bourbon, not only will I show you how to make the classic cocktail, I’ve also recruited TEN of Charleston’s finest mixologists to guide you through how to create TEN unique variations of my absolute go-to whiskey cocktail - The Boulevardier. Since it is Negroni Week and all and Coopers’ Craft is an official partner this year and I’m assuming you’re a fan of the classic Negroni (traditionally made with Gin), then the Boulevardier will be right up your alley - think of this as the bourbon drinker’s Negroni. I personally prefer a bold, complex bourbon such as Coopers’ Craft 100 Proof Barrel Reserve. This particular offering brings out the depth of flavors in the cocktail. Its a great balance of strong, sweet and bitter. I hope you enjoy these cocktails as much I enjoyed shooting them with these amazing folks! As always, please enjoy these cocktails responsibly. #sponsored
THE CLASSIC
I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of these on @holycityhandcraft - its with good reason. The classic Boulevardier is the perfect pre/during/after-dinner cocktail. Its the kind of cocktail that is not only delicious, but will garner a nod of approval from your bartender. Believe it or not, this cocktail was created BEFORE the Negroni. American bartender’s who moved overseas during prohibition brought some of America’s spirit (bourbon) and mixed it with European ingredients (in this case, Italian aperitivo and vermouths) to create something that has withstood the test of time.
ingredients:
1 Part Coopers’ Craft Bourbon Whiskey
1 Part Italian Aperitif (ie. Campari)
1 Part Sweet Vermouth
Orange peel (for garnish)
instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 10 seconds. Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist. Serve and enjoy!
Mare-ly Perfect Ride
Giddy-Up!
Up first on the #BartendersAndBoulevardiers series for #NegroniWeek with Coopers’ Craft is the wonderful Caroline Woodruff (@sheshakesandstirs) with her unique riff on this classic.
“This idea comes from a Paddock, which is an area for horses to graze in after a big day. I wanted to really show off saddled leather and grassy notes from a split of dry vermouth for my take on a Boulevardier. It’s easily one of my favorite cocktails to have many adaptations of, this one is a bit lighter, while the bitters let it run in a different strong direction.”
ingredients:
1½ Part Coopers’ Craft Bourbon Whiskey
1½ Parts @CoopersCraft Bourbon
¾ Part Bitter Orange Apertif
½ Part Sweet Vermouth
½ Part Dry Vermouth
4 Drops Leather Bitters
Smoked Haygrass
Orange Peel (Garnish)
instructions:
Combine #CoopersCraft with other liquid ingredients. Stir with ice. Serve over a large ice cube. Smoke with haygrass, express orange then garnish.
cloud 9
Ever been on Cloud 9? If not, this will take you there.
On today’s episode of the #BartendersAndBoulevardiers series for #NegroniWeek with Coopers’ Craft is Mr. Darren Fallon (@kane923) with his cocktail which I can only describe as a refreshing take on something between a Boulevardier and a Daiquiri. You’ll want to make this for sure!
“I wanted to give this great classic a refreshing and light twist. I have a love for sours, and thought why not give the combination a go. I think I nailed it on the head. Light, refreshing, and airy; without taking away the flavors of Coopers' Craft. Like being on #Cloud9, but in a glass.”
ingredients:
1½ Part Coopers’ Craft Bourbon Whiskey
1 Part Strawberry and Grapefruit infused Italian Aperitif (Fiero)
1 Part Cinnamon Infused Blanco Vermouth
¾ Part Lemon Juice
¾ Part Simple
1 Egg White
Peychaud Bitter and Orange Peel Garnish
instructions:
Combine all wet ingredients into a shaking tin. Dry shake all non-alcohol ingredients together. Add Liquor and wet shake. Double strain into a coupe. Add your garnish and enjoy!
VINE-LEVARDIER
Let’s talk about your health real quick…
Next up on the #BartendersAndBoulevardiers series for #NegroniWeek with Coopers’ Craft is the one and only Koky Lopez (@kokylo):
“After switching to a plant based diet 15 years ago, as a bartender I always made it a goal to sneak in healthier alternatives and extra supplements into cocktails to serve at my bar or to Imbibe on and this Boulevardier was inspired by the power of superfoods:
In the Caribbean; “parcha” is used to alleviate respiratory conditions like asthma, the common cold by providing plenty of vitamins C and A. Strawberries and Dragonfruit on the other hand, give the aperitif that beautiful red hue and flavonoids that help against chronic diseases; with potassium and antioxidants. While I’m not a doctor, I can make you a tasty superfood-powered, amazing cocktail! Enjoy this boulevardier over a big rock with an orange peel in a rad glass. Cheers to a healthier way of enjoying a cocktail!”
ingredients:
1 Part Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve Bourbon
1 Part Passion Fruit Infused Dry Vermouth
¾ Part Strawberry + Dragonfruit Infused Bitter Aperitivo
1 Orange Twist
instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 10 seconds. Strain and pour over a crystal clear ice cube. Express an orange peel over the glass. Serve and Enjoy!
GOOD NEWS
You know what’s better than a banana? A brûlée’d Banana. This recipe comes from a collaboration with my friend Kris Watson (@_machupikachu_) and trust me, the recipe is as amazing as the caramelized banana “garnish” you get to enjoy at the end.
“The process behind creating this boulevardier was to make a delicious drink using fairly accessible spirits. A boulevardier for the people! No infusions necessary. This cocktail is made to be sipped with friends in nature!”
ingredients:
1½ Part Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve Bourbon
¾ Part Italian Bitter Aperitif
½ Part Banana Liqueur
¾ Part Amontillado Sherry
Brûlée’d Banana Garnish
instructions:
Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir to preferred dilution. Strain over ice cubes. Garnish with a caramelized banana.
A1A Beachfront
A tiki inspired Boulevardier? Who’s in? 🙋🏾♂️
Last but certainly not least on the #BartendersAndBoulevardiers series for #NegroniWeek with Coopers’ Craft is the talented Anna Lazaridis (@annathegreek83) with her tiki riff on this classic.
“I was inspired to create a brighter and lighter version of the classic boulevardier. This cocktail uses a blend of aperitifs and a bitter orange amaro in place of the usual bitter liqueur and sweet vermouth to bring out brighter orange notes. I added a little pineapple cordial and cream of coconut for a fun tropical play on the classic that’s perfect to sip on during the dog days of summer!”
ingredients:
1 Part Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve Bourbon
1 Part Italian Aperitif Blend (Cappeletti/Aperol)
¾ part Bitter Orange Amaro (China-China)
1 part Pineapple Cordial
½ part Coconut Cream
2 dashes Orange bitters
instructions:
Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir to preferred dilution. Strain over ice cubes. Garnish with a caramelized banana.
Funky cold modena
AGAIN, on the #BartendersAndBoulevardiers series with @cooperscraft is Koky López (@kokylo) with her unique take on a balsamic Boulevardier.
“The Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is such a complex flavor that shares the process of regional mosto, natural fermentation & wood aging with most of my favorite spirits, yet its allocation is meant for cooking. After trying really good Aged Balsamic over Gelato at an Italian Dinner; I started creating cocktails using this antique historic Ingredient; its sweetness, spice and acidic components make it so special; It was a winner combination when mixed with fine Bourbon and the driest of Vermouths; and to bring a lil bit of 80’s flair and quoting my boy Tone Loc ‘ I got up and strolled over to the other side of the cantina I asked the guy, "Why you so fly?" he said, "Funky Cold Modena"
ingredients:
1 Part Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve Bourbon
1 Part Dry Vermouth
1 Part Italian Bitter Aperitif Blend (Cappelletti/Aperol)
3 Dashes Rich Balsamic Vinegar
2 Dashes Orange Bitters
1 Orange Twist
instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 10 seconds. Strain and pour over a crystal clear ice cube. Express an orange peel over the glass. Serve and Enjoy!
BEE-LAVARDIER
Up next is Michael Leslie (@mikeyveo) with a Boulevardier riff that accentuates some of the natural honey notes inherited from the unique Coopers’ Craft by incorporating local honey into the recipe, Michael was also kind enough to lend us a poem to go along with his recipe:
“Once there was a bee who flew up beside me and said,
‘Hey man, let me show you something’
With a sweet honey pass and a dip in my glass I knew that little bee wouldn’t sting”
ingredients:
1 Part Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve Bourbon
¾ Part Sweet Vermouth
¾ Part Italian Bitter Aperitif
¼ Part Honey Liqueur
Amaro rinse
1 Orange Twist with a honey swizzle
instructions:
Combine Coopers’ Craft, bitter aperitif, honey liqueur, and sweet vermouth in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 10 seconds. Rinse a glass with amaro. Strain and pour over crushed ice. Express an orange peel over the glass. Garnish with a honey swizzle.
The queen is dead
Up next up on the #BartendersAndBoulevardiers series is the talented Joy Wolters (@joytothewolters) with her coconut infused take on the Boulevardier:
“With my cocktail, I wanted to follow the basic Boulevardier recipe, but create a tropical flair. The coconut-infused aperitif takes the bitter component and just rounds it out with a little sweetness and richness. The [Pimm's] replaces sweet vermouth, by pulling away some of those herbal notes, and replacing them with dried fruit flavors. The Coopers’ Craft gives this cocktail a solid, toasty backbone, with just a touch of wood tannins, that are complemented by vanilla and caramel. Add a couple of dashes of orange bitters to enhance the citrus notes in the Bourbon and Campari, then serve over a coconut water ice cube to enhance the tropical flavors as you sip.”
ingredients:
1 Part Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve Bourbon
1 Part Gin-based Fruit Liqueur (ie. Pimm’s)
1 Part Coconut Infused Italian Bitter Aperitif
3 Dashes Orange Bitters
6 Coconut Water Ice Cubes
1 Blood Orange Wheel
instructions:
Combine all ingredients except coconut water ice cube and twist in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 10 seconds. Strain and pour over coconut water ice cube. Garnish with Blood Orange Wheel. Serve and Enjoy!
CHENGDU Boulevardier
AGAIN on the #BartendersAndBoulevardiers series with @cooperscraft is the wonderful Caroline Woodruff (@sheshakesandstirs) with her Sichuan riff on this classic.
“I love learning about different cultures and incorporating them into classics I’m comfortable with. Stirring things up with interesting, new (to me) ingredients. Nutty sesame and these floral, spicy peppercorns really show off the Sichuan region of China.”
ingredients:
1 Part Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve Bourbon
1 Part Toasted Sesame Sweet Vermouth
1 Part Sichuan Pepper-infused Italian Bitter Aperitif
1 tsp Black/white Sesame Seeds (garnish)
instructions:
Combine Coopers; Craft, Sichuan pepper-infused bitter aperitif and toasted sesame-infused sweet vermouth in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 10 seconds. Rim half of a rocks glass with the sesame seed mixture. Strain and pour cocktail into the rocks glass over a crystal clear ice cube. Serve and enjoy!
SACRED MONKEY
Last, but certainly not least on the #BartendersAndBoulevardiers series is my good buddy Jeremiah Schenzel (@schenzelwashington) with an incredible riff on a boulevardier that really blew me out of the water - check it out below.
“A take on the new-age coffee elixir “The Chunky Monkey”, the Sacred Monkey takes the funky flavors of banana, coffee, and nuts and combines them with the rich flavors of amaro, Italian aperitif, and Coopers Craft Reserve Bourbon for a Boulevardier fit for any meal… even breakfast.
ingredients:
1 Part Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve Bourbon
1 Part Banana, Hazelnut, & Coffee-infused Amaro
1 Part Italian Bitter Aperitif
¼ Part Heavy Cream
1 Brûléed Orange Wheel
instructions:
Combine Coopers’ Craft, bitter aperitif, infused amaro and cream in a shaking tin. Shake hard. Add ice and reshake until chilled evenly. Strain and pour into a collins glass. Sprinkle an orange wheel with sugar and use a torch to caramelize the sugars. Garnish with caramelized orange. Serve and Enjoy!
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