Name: Bardstown
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups 100-proof apple brandy, such as Laird’s; 1 cup 100-proof rye, such as Rittenhouse; ½ cup triple sec; 1 tablespoon orange bitters; ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon water; 8 orange twists

The Story Behind The Bardstown

This make-ahead bottled cocktail from Maggie Hoffman’s “Batch Cocktails” is a dinner party's boozy best friend. Similar to the American Trilogy cocktail of New York City's Little Branch, the Old Fashioned-esque drink will put your mind and guests at ease.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups 100-proof apple brandy, such as Laird’s
1 cup 100-proof rye, such as Rittenhouse
½ cup triple sec
1 tablespoon orange bitters
¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon water
8 orange twists

Directions

At least 1 1/2 hours and up to 2 1/2 hours before serving, use a small funnel to pour apple brandy, rye, triple sec, bitters, and water into a 1-liter swing-top bottle.
Seal, turn gently to mix, and chill in your freezer. (If you’d prefer to batch further in advance, refrigerate filled bottle, then place in freezer an hour or so before serving.)
To serve, turn bottle gently to mix again, and then pour into chilled coupe glasses.
Express the oils from an orange twist over each glass, rub rim of glass with twist, and use twist as garnish.