Revolver
A spirit-forward, elegant drink of bourbon, coffee liqueur and orange bitters, finished with a flamed orange peel.
Ingredients
- Bourbon, ideally high-rye, for extra spice60 ml
- Coffee liqueur15 ml
- Rich simple syrup (2:1), only if the coffee liqueur is dry5 ml
- Orange bitters2 dashes
- Orange, flamed, to garnish (optional)1 strip
Method
- Chill a coupe or cocktail glass thoroughly.
- Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes and add the bourbon, coffee liqueur, orange bitters and the syrup, if using.
- Stir for 30–40 seconds, until cold and properly diluted.
- Strain through a fine strainer into the cold glass.
- Express the oils from a strip of orange peel over the drink, flame the peel for extra aroma, and drop it in as a garnish.
Jon Santer, San Francisco
About this drink
The Revolver was created by bartender Jon Santer in San Francisco in the early 2000s: essentially a bourbon Manhattan in which coffee liqueur takes the place of vermouth. The flamed orange peel is more than a show; the toasted oils add a warm, almost smoky aroma that ties the coffee and bourbon together. It is now counted among the modern classics, alongside the spirit-forward drinks of the golden age.
