Today’s cocktail is the Robert Frost, a bourbon-based cocktail with sherry and white port that is unbelievably tasty.  The drink was invented by none other than Derek Brown, DC’s cocktail master, for a 2009 White House holiday party.  While we sadly aren’t invited to parties at the White House, we had the pleasure of tasting Derek’s creation during a recent outing to the Columbia Room, one of his DC establishments.  Be careful with this one.  It goes down easily, and may disappear faster than you mean it to!

Read below for the recipe!

The Robert Frost:

3/4 oz Bourbon
3/4 oz Dry Sherry (such as Amontillado)
3/4 oz White Port
1/4 oz Simple Syrup
1 dash Orange Bitters

 

Combine the ingredients and shake gently with ice.  Strain into a chilled, wide-rimmed cocktail glass.  Garnish with thinly sliced orange and lemon wheels, and enjoy!

This is a really fantastic and complex drink that showcases sherry without being overwhelmed by it (which I’ve discovered can easily happen with sherry in cocktails).  The bourbon lends an oaky, vanilla flavor but the real star of this drink is the Amontillado sherry, which is fruity, nutty, and grainy all at the same time.  The bourbon, sherry, and port all lend sweetness to the drink, so add simple syrup sparingly (and to taste).

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper