Ingredients
- 1/2 ozFresh Lemon JuiceFresh squeezedSubstitute: Meyer lemon
- 3 dashesAngostura Aromatic BittersWarming spice complexitySubstitute: Walnut bitters
- 2 ozBourbon WhiskeyQuality bourbonSubstitute: Rye whiskey
- 3/4 ozHoney SyrupHoney and water 1:1Substitute: Maple syrup
- 1/4 ozCinnamon SyrupCinnamon-infused syrupSubstitute: Allspice dram
Instructions
- Add 2 oz bourbon, 3/4 oz honey syrup, 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice, and 1/4 oz cinnamon syrup to mixing glass
- Add 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Fill with ice and stir until well chilled
- Strain over fresh ice in old fashioned glass
- Garnish with cinnamon stick
Technique Notes
Use a real cinnamon syrup rather than a stick in the glass. A stick gives you almost nothing in a cold drink, and this build has no heat to extract it.
Why the Winter Warmer Works
Cinnamon syrup and Angostura's clove are warm-spice cousins, and honey supplies the sweetness that bourbon's vanilla agrees with. Lemon sharpens what would otherwise be a heavy, sweet drink; the bitters keep the cinnamon from going gingerbread.