House Spirits Recipe

Combine spirits

In a large clean pitcher or mixing vessel, pour 6 oz gin, 6 oz blended Scotch, 6 oz reposado tequila, 6 oz aged rum, 3 oz Cointreau, and 3 oz dry vermouth. Stir gently to combine — this mixture forms the 'house spirits' base for five servings.

Sweeten and balance

Add 3 oz simple syrup and 1.5 oz demerara syrup to the pitcher with the spirit blend. Stir until syrups are fully incorporated. Taste and adjust: the simple syrup provides body and the demerara adds a warm, caramel note to balance the mixed spirits.

Acid and aromatics

Add 3 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1.5 oz fresh lime juice to the pitcher. Add 12 tsp Angostura bitters and 6 tsp orange bitters. Stir well for 20–30 seconds to marry and slightly chill the mixture. Taste; the citrus should brighten the blend and the bitters should add aromatic complexity.

Prepare glasses

Fill five rocks or coupe glasses with ice (or chill glasses ahead if serving neat). If serving on the rocks, add fresh large ice cubes to each glass.

Portion

Strain the combined house spirits mixture evenly into the five prepared glasses. Expect roughly 3.5–4 oz of finished cocktail per serving depending on ice and dilution.

Garnish

Express an orange peel over each drink to release oils, rub the peel on the glass rim, and drop in as a garnish. Add a lemon wheel to the rim or float it in the glass as desired.

Optional finishing

If you prefer a slightly smoked or richer finishing note, grate a small scrap of demerara sugar over a flame and briefly caramelize it atop each garnish, or add a single dash more Angostura to each glass to taste.

This recipe yields five balanced cocktails by combining five spirits with supporting liqueur, vermouth, citrus, syrups and bitters. The house blend can be mixed in advance and kept chilled for up to 48 hours; stir before serving. Adjust citrus or syrup slightly if you prefer more tartness or sweetness. All listed ingredients are used; if substituting spirits, keep total spirit volume similar to maintain balance.