Story
As you probably know, spirits are typically described in terms of both % alcohol by volume (ABV) and proof (which is just double the ABV). The story is that sailors and tax officers would test a spirit’s alcohol content by mixing it with a little gunpowder and seeing if it would ignite. If it did, it was “proof spirit” – strong enough to be taxed at a higher rate or stored on naval vessels for long voyages. “Overproof” is a term that refers to spirits with an alcohol content significantly over this threshold. While it varies by spirit type, “overproof” generally means that the spirit is over 110 proof (55% ABV). High-proof spirits can unbalance a drink, as happened when I tried to use overproof bourbon in the Appeal To Tradition. Because overproof alcohol is louder in a drink, you need to crank up the other elements a bit to match. In the case of the Husband Material, which I found on the website of bar consultant Jordan Hughes, the bitters (6 dashes!) and the grapefruit twist step up to match the intensity of the bourbon, with the Aperol doing its part as well. Rather than make a drink that knocks your socks off, some magic happens and the spirit backs down a bit. I tried the recommended Ramazzotti Rosato, which is a light, floral liqueur, but the Aperol did the job better. The result is boozy and citrusy with a super-long bittersweet finish. Cheers!
As you probably know, spirits are typically described in terms of both % alcohol by volume (ABV) and proof (which is just double the ABV). The story is that sailors and tax officers would test a spirit’s alcohol content by mixing it with a little gunpowder and seeing if it would ignite. If it did, it was “proof spirit” – strong enough to be taxed at a higher rate or stored on naval vessels for long voyages. “Overproof” is a term that refers to spirits with an alcohol content significantly over this threshold. While it varies by spirit type, “overproof” generally means that the spirit is over 110 proof (55% ABV). High-proof spirits can unbalance a drink, as happened when I tried to use overproof bourbon in the Appeal To Tradition. Because overproof alcohol is louder in a drink, you need to crank up the other elements a bit to match. In the case of the Husband Material, which I found on the website of bar consultant Jordan Hughes, the bitters (6 dashes!) and the grapefruit twist step up to match the intensity of the bourbon, with the Aperol doing its part as well. Rather than make a drink that knocks your socks off, some magic happens and the spirit backs down a bit. I tried the recommended Ramazzotti Rosato, which is a light, floral liqueur, but the Aperol did the job better. The result is boozy and citrusy with a super-long bittersweet finish. Cheers!
Recipe
1.5 oz overproof bourbon (Old Forester 1920)
0.75 oz Aperol (or Ramazzotti Rosato)
0.25 oz Giffard Vanille de Madagascar
6 dashes Bittermens Elemakule Tiki bitters
-Stir the ingredients with ice. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with grapefruit twist.
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