You are here: Home » Drink of the Day » The Bourbon Crusta is May 17th Drink of the Day!!

The Bourbon Crusta is May 17th Drink of the Day!!

May 17, 2014 | By Shaun Daugherty | Add a Comment

Here is an oldie, but goodie! In fact, this cocktail is linked to being what changed how cocktails were made, getting bartenders to think more outside-the-box when coming up with their own creations. You can truly look at this as the grandfather of modern cocktails.

The original Crusta Cocktail was made with brandy as the base liquor. It was created by bartender Joe Santini at the City Exchange Bar in New Orleans around 1850. Instead of using only the common sugar, water, and bitter mixture to ease the flavor of the liquor itself, Mr. Santini went a little further, adding some citrus notes and aromatic character to enhance and bring out more from the base liquor. It created quite a stir at the time. Who knows where we would be today in our creations if not for our bartending forefathers.

The crusta I will be introducing as the Drink of the Day today is made with a bourbon base instead of the brandy. Astoundingly enough, bourbon was first being created in Kentucky as this cocktail was first being tasted in New Orleans. Well, that’s another story in itself. So, I don’t take away from this incredible cocktail, I will leave it at that. Enjoy your Saturday! Cheers!

Bourbon Crusta

1 1/2 oz. Bourbon Whiskey

1/2 oz. Maraschino Liqueur

1/2 oz. Triple Sec

Juice from half a Lemon

2 Dashes of Orange Bitters

Method: In a mixing glass filled with ice, pour in the first three ingredients to measure. Squeeze in the juice from half a lemon, discarding the remnants of the lemon after doing so. Add a couple dashes of orange bitters. Cap with a shaker tin and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Optional: Rim the glass with fine granulated sugar and add a twist of lemon for garnish.

This Day in History:

1792 - The New York Stock Exchange was established when 24 brokers and merchants met by a tree in an area that is now Wall Street and signed the Buttonwood Agreement.

1875 - The first Kentucky Derby was ran at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

1954 - The Supreme Court ruled unanimously against segregation in schools (Brown vs. Board of Education).

2004 - Same-sex couples exchanged vows for the first time in the United States in Massachusetts.

Notable Birthday:

Boxing great, Sugar Ray Leonard was born on this date in 1956.

Notable Quote:

“Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities.” - Sugar Ray Leonard