Osakan Summer

Ingredients:

2oz Yamazaki

.25oz Strega

.25oz  Amaro Nonino

.5oz Meyer Lemon Juice

.33oz Honey Syrup

2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters

Peat Monster (rinse)

Flamed Lemon Twist

Instructions:

Add the Yamazaki, Strega, Amaro Nonino, lemon juice, honey syrup and Peychaud’s bitters to a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously until well chilled. Rinse a chilled coupe with Peat Monster (or other peaty scotch). Strain the shaker contents into the coupe. Garnish with a flamed lemon twist.

History:

As a fan of Peat Monster scotch, I particularly enjoy rinsing glasses with it to add some smoke to my cocktails (in case you couldn’t tell). While another peated scotch, like Laphroaig, would work, I really enjoy the flavor of Peat Monster. This one is inspired by another drink that uses my favorite peaty scotch rinse…

Osakan Summer is based on/inspired by a drink by Adam Bernbach of Proof in DC, called Sorry, Konishi. I had this one a while back (before there was The Straight Up) and had been toying with recreating something similar in some form or another ever since.

If memory serves, Sorry, Konishi had Yamazaki, Galliano, honey syrup, lemon juice and Peychaud’s bitters with a Peat Monster rinse. I, unfortunately, never got the ratios. I went back to Proof to try it again after starting The Straight Up, in hopes of featuring it, but unfortunately the drink was off the menu and to top it off they were out of Yamazaki.

Looking to do something similar, I took what I remembered about the drink and went to experimenting. I really enjoy the lighter flavor of the Japanese Whisky and of course the smokey Peat Monster rinse. I thought Strega and Amaro Nonino would be a nice touch, taking the place of Galliano.

I also like this one with Meyer lemon juice, which gives a bit of an orangey flavor. That being said a regular lemon would also do just fine. I stuck with the Peychaud’s bitters as it adds some nice texture and complexity, without overbearing the lighter notes in the drink.

Osakan Summer makes a flavorful yet easygoing summer sipper that I’m sure you will enjoy. On a side note, if you make it to DC, check out Proof for some great cocktails, not to mention that their food is top notch.

Variations:

Osakan Summer is essentially a variation of the classic Whiskey Sour. Another great whiskey sour is Final Ward, a Last Word variation.

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