I have had the pleasure of having Andrew make me a Courting Rachel on several occasions and it is by far the best cocktail I have had! The taste takes me back to sitting around a campfire in Hells Canyon, Idaho after a bitter cold day of Steelhead fishing with friends on the Snake River. Andrew's work with ice is a must see- a true atisan at work willing to endure a labor-intensive process that delights the palate!
Friday Cocktails: The Courting Rachel
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Credit: Helen Rosner
Thanks to the wood, Bohrer knew that he had to name this drink for U.S. President Andrew Jackson, who was nicknamed "Old Hickory" for his tough demeanor. One problem, though: "I hate Andrew Jackson," Bohrer told me. "But one of the cool things he did was fight 13 duels for his wife's honor. In one of the duels he took a bullet in the chest and just stood there, and then he killed the guy." For a historical figure whose legacy primarily centers around his genocide of Native Americans, Bohrer found Jackson's dedication to his wife's honor a fitting aspect for paying tribute, so the Courting Rachel was born. (Adding a further layer of romance to the drink — and visual drama to its preparation — Bohrer serves the drink over a huge diamond made of ice, which he carves barside each time the drink is ordered.)
The basis for the Courting Rachel is an Old Fashioned, though Bohrer has tweaked the classic recipe to balance out the flavor of the smoke. He starts with a bourbon with a short, sweet finish — he prefers Maker's Mark, which he says is "bad for sipping, good for mixing" — and adds a sweet-bitter balance from house-made rye whiskey simple syrup and Peychaud's bitters. After a quick swirl in a decanter filled with fresh smoke (produced by a handheld food smoker) and a spectacular pour over the icy diamond, it's ready to go: sweet, bitter, fiery, and deep.
See the recipe for the Courting Rachel »
See a step-by-step guide to making the Courting Rachel in the photo gallery »
Comments (3)
Normally my palate doesn't lean toward smokey, but I so enjoyed the history behind your creation that now I'm intrigued.
Ooh. That's my name! And I do love our cocktail culture here...especially in Belltown at Zig Zag, of course, Il Bistro, Bathtub Gin, Diller Room. Can't wait to try Mistral Kitchen and this delicious-looking drink!
