Last night I spent some time playing around with ingredients for a Valentine’s Day cocktail. I knew that I wanted to use bourbon, of course, and I settled on Four Roses Single Barrel, which has a bit of a bite to it. I also wanted to include chocolate, because chocolate and bourbon pair really well. Godiva Liqueur filled the bill. I tried adding some Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur as well, but the resulting drink was way too sweet. The solution? Replacing the Luxardo with a few dashes of Woodford Reserve’s new Spiced Cherry Bitters. This new product (more about it soon) gave a hint of cherry flavor while its spiciness added complexity to the chocolate.
I call this cocktail The Valentine because, as my husband noted, it has all the elements of the holiday: roses, chocolate and a kiss of cherry.
The Valentine
2 oz. bourbon (Four Roses Single Barrel)
1 oz. Godiva Liqueur
4 dashes Woodford Reserve Spiced Cherry Bitters
Combine ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake, then strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Enjoy.
