I have never really been a whiskey girl, unless you count all the Fireball I consumed for a brief period after college. I actually can never remember the difference between whiskey and bourbon- which is apparently that bourbon is a type of whiskey. The first time I ever actually enjoyed a whiskey drink was at our wedding. Kendall’s signature drink was a KENtucky mule (a Kentucky mule with a mimosa twist, subbing bourbon for vodka in the linked recipe). It was super yummy and I found myself sipping from his throughout the night.
The second time I genuinely found myself enjoying a whiskey drink was a couple Saturdays ago at a Derby cocktail hour at The Hour in Old Town Alexandria, celebrating Old Town Cocktail Week (and Derby Day, of course). Jon from The People’s Drug was whipping up Derby-perfect cocktails in sippin’ sizes so that you could try a few guilt free. By far, my favorite was the Whiskey Smash.
Like Mint Juleps? You’ll love the Whiskey Smash, a citrusy 19th-century cooler. Legendary bartender Dale DeGroff at the Rainbow Room in New York modified the classic recipe by adding muddled lemon wedges. DeGroff calls the citrus-and-mint combination the perfect cocktail for those who say they’ll never drink whiskey.
What exactly is in a whiskey smash? I know cocktails differ from place to place, but I found an easy-to-follow recipe on Liquor.com. Might I suggest picking up a local whiskey instead?
It was a fun way to spend a grey morning- big hats, fashionable friends, surrounded by The Hour’s gorgeous glass wear. If you’re in the DC area and haven’t ventured to Old Town, you should! Even growing up in Maryland, my family made frequent trips across the Potomac for special occasions and to try new restaurants (and shopping).
My outfit: Garden Crossover Back Flutter Dress||Rainbow shoulder bag||Floppy Sun Hat||Similar pearl collar necklace||women’s dresses
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