Carolina Gold Recipe

Carolina Gold Cocktail

1. 1

   Make honey syrup

   If you don't have honey syrup prepared, make it first. Combine equal parts honey and hot water (for example 1/4 cup honey + 1/4 cup hot water) and stir until fully combined and slightly cooled. Chill briefly if necessary.

2. 2

   Prepare cocktail

   Add 2 oz blended rye whiskey (or bourbon), 1/2 oz dry vermouth, 1/4 oz yellow Chartreuse, 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice, 1/2 oz honey syrup, 2 dashes Angostura bitters, and 1 dash orange bitters into a cocktail shaker.

3. 3

   Shake with ice

   Fill the shaker with ice (enough to properly chill and dilute, about 6–8 large ice cubes). Shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is cold and a small frost forms.

4. 4

   Strain

   Double-strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass to remove small ice shards and any pulp from the lemon juice.

5. 5

   Garnish and serve

   Express a lemon twist over the surface to release citrus oils, then rub the twist around the glass rim and drop it gently into the drink. Serve immediately.

6. 6

   Notes on substitutions

   Yellow Chartreuse provides a gentle herbal sweetness; if unavailable, substitute 1/4 oz Strega or 1/4 oz elderflower liqueur, though the flavor will shift. For a slightly richer finish, swap blended rye for bourbon.