Esprits De La Maison Recipe

1. Combine spirits

In a clean 1-quart (or larger) bottle or pitcher, pour the vodka (6 oz), gin (6 oz), tequila (6 oz), white rum (6 oz), bourbon (6 oz) and rye whiskey (6 oz). This creates the multi-spirit 'Esprits de la Maison' house blend.

2. Gently roll or stir the bottle/pitcher to marry the spirits. No shaking is necessary. Seal and store in the refrigerator until ready to mix; the blend will keep for several weeks chilled.

3. Measure and combine

For each cocktail: in a mixing pitcher or cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice, add 3 oz of the prepared house blend, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, 1/2 oz fresh lime juice, and 1 oz simple syrup. (For all 4 cocktails at once: use 12 oz house blend, 4 oz lemon juice, 2 oz lime juice, 4 oz simple syrup.)

4. Add bitters

Add 3 dashes Angostura bitters and 2 dashes orange bitters per cocktail (or for a 4-cocktail batch add 12 dashes Angostura and 8 dashes orange). The bitters add aromatic depth to balance the wide range of spirits.

5. Shake

Cap the shaker and shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is well chilled. If using a mixing pitcher, stir for 20–30 seconds to chill and dilute slightly, then strain into a clean shaker with fresh ice and give a quick 5–7 second shake.

6. Serve

Strain each cocktail over one large ice cube in a rocks glass. Top each with 2 oz club soda to lift and lighten the drink (for a party you can pre-batch and top glasses individually).

7. Garnish

Express a lemon twist over the drink to release oils, then drop a lemon wheel or twist into the glass. Optionally, add a short cocktail pick with a citrus twist.

8. Strength adjustment: The house blend is high-proof when all spirits are combined. To lower ABV per serving, use 2 oz house blend per cocktail and increase citrus/syrup and soda slightly, or add more club soda to taste.

9. Batching: To batch for a larger crowd, keep the same ratios: 1 part each spirit for the base; for each 3 oz of base used per drink, add 1.5 oz total citrus + sweetener + bitters proportionally, then top with soda when serving.

10. Make-ahead: The house blend can be prepared days ahead. Citrus juice and simple syrup are best fresh; store them refrigerated up to 72 hours.