The Story Behind The New School
Whiskey, lemon, and ginger are almost a holy triumverate. Together, they give you everything you need from a cocktail: spice, acid, and that je ne sais quoi that ginger always brings to the party. Add some sweetness and you're basically set for life.
Recently I was at a wedding in Buenos Aires, Argentina where our friends at Holy Champagne were running the bar. One of the drinks on the menu that caught my eye was called the “Old School” cocktail. It featured bourbon, lemon juice, and ginger syrup. I wanted to reinterpret this cocktail by taking down the sweetness a notch. I decided to put it in a hi-ball glass and add some soda water to dry it out a little. It worked perfectly.
The ginger syrup was really easy to make, too. I just mixed up some simple syrup and added in the sliced-up ginger. Once it had rested for a few hours, the ginger really came through.
Related Reads & Recipes
More Whiskey Recipes To Explore
The Crossing Currents Recipe:
Made with Irish whiskey and white vermouth, this twist on a Manhattan comes to us from Joaquín Simó of NYC's Pouring Ribbons. Read the recipe and learn how to make it.
The Black Manhattan Recipe:
Invented by mixologist Todd Smith in 2005, the Black Manhattan exchanges the sweet vermouth of its historic counterpart for amaro.
The 7 & 7 Recipe:
The 7 & 7 cocktail was one of the most popular drinks of the ‘70s, and it’s a Hollywood legend in its own right.
Gentlemen’s Date:
Developed by the team at New York's Yoon Haeundae Galbi, the Gentlemen's Date is a riff on the classic Manhattan. Get the recipe here!
Tokiringo:
The Tokiringo blends rich flavors of brown butter washed Japanese Whisky with bright citrus and a touch of acid for a balanced seasonal sip.
The New York Sour:
A riff on the Whiskey Sour, the New York Sour takes the classic cocktail and tops it with a float of dry red wine. See the recipe here!
