Brightest Young Things

I was chatting last night with Alan about our respective drinks that evening: I was drinking cranberry flavored ginger ale with vodka (sometimes I like to slum it) and he was drinking bourbon straight up. And it got me thinking - I want something warm with bourbon. Mulled Bourbon came to my rescue.

I want to note that I did not make this drink last night, but I will this evening and will probably report back on it. Or I'll drink it all and not share. Either/or. The problem with doing a drink a day - one of them, anyways - is that you never seem to have all the ingredients on hand when you find something truly awesome, and generally the liquor stores are closed when you're mixing and ruminating. In this case I was lacking madeira. So it goes.

Mulled Bourbon

• 2 1/2 oz madeira wine
• 1 oz bourbon
• 1 oz Lillet Blanc
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• 4 oz water
• 1 tsp brown sugar

Build all of these in a saucepan and heat, but do not boil. Place lemon wedge, cloves, cinnamon stick in a mug and add hot bourbon mixture. Traditionally, the mixture is heated by dipping a red hot iron poker into it but feel free to use the stove top method instead.

I dare you to tell me this doesn't sound awesome.