Why think Deer Camp needs to consist of cases of the (insert cheap, light/lite beer)? Oh, but I’m “Forgetting all of the (insert cheap liquor) to mix with (insert cheap soft drink or expensive energy drink) – those are great!” you say. No, I’m not. Look, I get that you sat in the woods for most of the day – only to come in for lunch. A smaller number of you even put in all day sits in the tree stand, so I get that you want to go for something quick and easy by just popping open a cold one. But why limit yourself?
“Limit myself?!” you chide
Yeah, I mean, for some of you this might be your only weekend or two away from the grind. And you want to celebrate the occasion for not having to wake up to your snot-nosed-three-year-old whining at 3am for no reason by putting down a cheap cold one?! You’re with family and/or friends. YOU’RE AT DEER CAMP! You should be toasting to that! Am I right or am I right? Plus, I know you have a little excess maple syrup from the French Toast you’re bringing up, so why not put the rest to great use?!
Old is the new fashion! So let’s toast to the occasion:
What you need:
- 1.5 oz. Bourbon
- 1 oz. Rye Whiskey
- ¼ oz. Maple Syrup
- Angostura Bitters
- 1-2 drops Liquid Smoke (or cup smoke from the fireside/matches)
- Ice
- Garnish: orange peel (optional: cherry)
Instructions:
- Stir ingredients with ice
- Strain into a freshly iced (and smoked if you cup the smoke from the fireside)
- Take a match to the orange peel garnish and pinch over the glass (it should shoot out some juice that gets ignited by the match)
- Garnish with the smoked orange peel
Recipe credit: Isaac Huss.
Isaac specializes in classic cocktails made right–though not without room for innovation–when he’s not writing, speaking, or advancing his favorite non-profits, that is. He loves a good, beer, wine, or gin and tonic as much as the next guy but finds particular satisfaction in elevating people’s expectations of leisurely imbibing.