Gun Runner Recipe
WOODFORD RESERVE BOURBON, SUGAR, TURKISH BITTERS, ORANGE PEEL, SMOKED WHISKEY BARREL OAK
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Ingredients
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Cocktail
Smoked Barrel Oak Finish
Optional (for serving)
Method
Prepare smoked barrel oak tincture
Flash infusion (10–15 minutes)
Place the smoked whiskey barrel oak chips in a small glass jar. Pour 0.5 oz high-proof neutral spirit over the chips, cap the jar, and let steep for 10 minutes, shaking gently every 2 minutes to wet all chips. After 10 minutes, strain out the chips through a fine mesh or coffee filter and reserve the infused spirit. Discard the solids. You should have roughly 0.4–0.5 oz of oak-infused spirit. (This creates an intense oak/char note without long aging.)
Combine with bourbon
Add 0.25 oz of the oak-infused spirit to the bourbon measurement when building the cocktail (see cocktail assembly). Reserve any remaining infused spirit for 1–2 future cocktails stored airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Build and finish the cocktail
Chill: If desired, chill the serving glass (Old Fashioned/rocks glass) by filling it with ice and setting aside while you build the drink.
Mix: In a mixing glass, add 2 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon and the 0.25 oz simple syrup. Add 3 dashes Turkish bitters. Add 0.25 oz oak-infused spirit (from the preparation step) to impart the smoked barrel note. Fill the mixing glass with large ice and stir vigorously for 20–30 seconds until well-chilled and slightly diluted (about 20–25% dilution by eye).
Prepare glass: Dump the ice from the serving glass and add one large clear ice cube.
Strain: Double-strain the stirred cocktail into the prepared glass over the large ice cube to remove any small ice shards.
Express and garnish: Take the orange peel and hold it about 3–4 inches above the surface of the drink with the outer (orange) side facing down. Firmly squeeze the peel to release oils, then swipe the peel around the rim of the glass and drop it into the drink as garnish.
Serve: Present immediately. Optionally mention to sip slowly to enjoy the layered bourbon, citrus, bitters and smoked oak character.