Mixology: The Art of the Summer Pour

The gardens are in full bloom, the air carries that unmistakable hint of SPF, and the sun lingers just a little longer—summer has made its vibrant return. With its arrival comes an instinctive urge to loosen the knot on that Full Windsor and imbibe in good company. It’s sacred. It’s communal. It’s decompressing at its finest.

Some evenings call for alchemy; others for a few simple ingredients and a cocktail strainer. Make a little room on the bar cart—these recipes are yours to show off.  

The theme here is whiskey. The late, great Mark Twain put it best: “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” So we’ve got a well-rounded trio to impress your guests; each different in spirit and flavor, but equally suited for long, sunlit evenings.

Peach on Canvas

Photo by Lisa Konicki

The Peach on Canvas is soft and sunlit, with a whisper of fresh herbs and ripe peach layered over warm honey (a nod to the Peach State). A high-ball glass will do just fine for housing this beverage.
Serving Size: 1 Cocktail
Fruit-Forward, Honeycake, Herbaceous

2 ounces DoMA Corn Whiskey

3/4 ounce fresh peach purée (or lightly muddled ripe peach)

1/2 ounce dry vermouth

1/4 ounce salted honey syrup (2:1 honey, tiny pinch of sea salt)

2 dashes Angostura bitters

1 small basil leaf (or thyme, but basil leans more “summer field”)

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice, then fine strain over a large cube. Garnish with a basil leaf. Line the glass with a few thin peach slices for added flair.

Penelope in Low Light

Photo by Hanna Brown

Penelope in Low Light is a study in restraint and ambiance. Crafted in celebration of a daughter on the way, Penelope Bourbon leans into life’s everyday joys, though there’s nothing particularly ordinary about it.
Serving Size: 1 Cocktail
Cocao, Toasted Oak, Warm Caramel

2 ounces Penelope Cigar Sessions Chapter 1

1 bar spoon demerara syrup

1 dash Angostura cocoa bitters

1 orange peel, expressed

Add whiskey, demerara, and chocolate bitters to a mixing glass with ice. Stir until chilled, then strain over a large cube. Express an orange peel over the top.

In Good Company

Photo by Hanna Brown

In Good Company pleases the more sultry sippers with its silky texture and hint of blackberry
Serving Size: 1 Cocktail
Blackberry, Citrus, Maple

2 ounces Company Distilling Straight Bourbon Whiskey

3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice

1/2 oz Routin 1883 Blackberry Syrup (or substitute with muddled & strained fresh blackberries)

1/4 ounce simple syrup

1 egg white, for texture

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Dry shake, then shake with ice. Fine strain into a coupe glass or over a large cube.

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Hanna Brown
Official Contributor
Growing up in Monroeville, Alabama, hospitality was a recurring concept in Brown's childhood. Her mother and grandmother were pros at conveying anything from celebration to sympathy via a rotating door and a casserole dish. Her hope is to carry on this tradition of intentional gathering through wine and spirits, while highlighting the independent businesses who work diligently to produce products of purpose