Sunday, September 1, 2013
A COCKTAIL FOR THE MAN ABOUT TOWN
Boulevardier cocktail, presented in a vintage etched-glass coupe.
The fine fellow you see pictured above is a Boulevardier.
I first learned of his existence some months back, in an evening out with Houston Steve and our respective brides. I had two... and that would have been enough all by themselves. (Alas, we followed those up with a few Provençal Martinis after we arrived at our house. Splendid days.)
If you combine gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth in a cocktail glass, you get a Negroni. Swap out the gin for bourbon, and you have a Boulevardier: literally, a “man about town.” What better tipple for Mister Debonair?
Boulevardier
1½ ounces bourbon
1 ounce Campari
1 ounce sweet vermouth
Combine with ice in a shaker; stir well and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.
When I made my Boulevardier, I used Knob Creek single barrel reserve bourbon, a ferociously potent base. For the vermouth, I selected Carpano Antica Formula, made with a recipe that dates back to the eighteenth century. And Campari is, of course, in a category by itself: With a squirt of soda water and a squeeze of lime, it’s SWMBO’s favorite apĂ©ritif.
It is, indeed, a perfect cocktail for the Man about Town. And that’s no Boulshit.
.... so why during our recent visit were we drinking Scotch and water and not these beauties?...
ReplyDeleteGood question. Next time, we'll make a concerted effort to broaden your Drinky Horizons.
ReplyDeleteSounds good, especially since I'm not a big fan of gin.
ReplyDelete