The BLACKTHORN: a hidden whiskey classic cocktail

Get your bottles at House of Bitter Bear 👉 https://houseofbitterbear.com Today we’re making two classic cocktails that share the same name: the Blackthorn. There are quite a few drinks going by that title, but I’ve narrowed it down to two very different recipes that trace back to the early 1900s. One version is an Irish whiskey cocktail built with vermouth and absinthe. The other is a sloe gin cocktail featuring sweet and dry vermouth with bitters. Both claim to be the true Blackthorn, and both show up in early cocktail history. We’ll dig into where these recipes came from, compare the ingredients, and mix them side by side to see which one really earns the name. If you’re into cocktail history, forgotten drinks from the golden age of bartending, or just want two excellent vermouth-forward classics to add to your rotation, this one’s for you. Cheers! Try my grenadine & falernum 👉 https://beveragemixers.com/collections/anders-erickson-holiday-collection?sca_ref=6375283.i1mAKIWjO7 Don’t forget the merch! 👉 https://exlsv.com/collections/anders-erickson Join us on Patreon 👉 https://patreon.com/anderserickson My newsletter: https://anderserickson.com Video/editing/illustrations by Azusa Inaba 🎥 🎨 ——— CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:40 The History 05:16 The Booze (Round 1) 06:35 The Irish Blackthorn Recipe 08:13 The Booze (Round 2) 08:53 The Blackthorn #2 Recipe 12:03 Sign Off ——— THE IRISH BLACKTHORN RECIPE 6:35 1.5 oz (45 ml) Redbreast 12 year Irish Whiskey 1.5 oz (45 ml) Dolin Blanc Vermouth de Chambéry 2 dashes St. George Absinthe Verte 3 dashes Fee Bros. Cardamom (Boker’s Style) Bitters Expressed lemon oil and peel for garnish THE BLACKTHORN #2 RECIPE 8:53 3/4 oz (22.5 ml) Plymouth Sloe Gin 3/4 oz (22.5 ml) Dolin Sweet Vermouth de Chambéry 3/4 oz (22.5 ml) Dolin Blanc Vermouth de Chambéry 2 dashes Regan’s Orange Bitters No. 6 1 dash Angostura Bitters Expressed lemon oil ——— THE TOOLS To The Bar Mat: https://rb.gy/ds3osd My workhorse double jigger: https://amzn.to/3lmmKrK My favorite mixing glass: https://amzn.to/45nvvvq Bar spoon: https://amzn.to/3wkkDhg Julep strainer: https://amzn.to/3mymEyA Dasher bottles: https://amzn.to/3iKjbNE Art Deco Cocktail Picks: https://tidd.ly/4rNt7Yg THE BOOKS Bartender's Manual (1934 Reprint), Harry Johnson: https://amzn.to/4cSN8Yz The World's Drinks and How to Mix Them, William (Cocktail) Boothby: https://amzn.to/4sjsx4j Cocktails: How to Mix Them, Robert Vermiere: https://amzn.to/4cYFuvE The Joy of Mixology, Gary Regan: https://amzn.to/4cR5pp1 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Special thanks to our top-tier patrons: Adam Greetis Brandon Carey Randy Calegari Matthew Crowley Kevin Dzomery Derek Patstone Rick Turoczy Joshua Penley Sheri Muilenburg Connie & Rob Chapin Chris Roberts Howard Pollack Bruce Stark Brian Gordon David Byrne Randall Randall Nick D Pilaitis Jonathan Shaffer Melanie Sumner Brian R David Pruett Brody Matthew White Brian Sciarratta KC JONES Scott Goode Allen Saxton Lara Charles Snodgrass Scott MacLean Robert Tim Ayers Steve Mr. Robert Wade Follow Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anderserickson/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/anderserickson_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andersericksoncocktails Send stuff to: Anders Erickson PO Box 248 Baileys Harbor, WI 54202