Fry

The Piggyback

November 19, 2009
5
2 Ratings
  • Serves 1
Author Notes

This bacon-infused bourbon cocktail was inspired by the Old Fashioned at PDT, a cocktail mecca in New York City’s East Village. I think the star-anise-infused cider syrup gives mine a nice complexity, and the fresh lemon juice sparks the dark, smoky flavors. —gluttonforlife

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • For the Bacon-Infused Bourbon
  • 375 milliliters bourbon, such as Tuthilltown's Baby Bourbon
  • 2 slices smoky bacon
  • For the Apple Cider Syrup
  • 2 cups organic apple cider
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar (like dark muscovado)
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup, grade B preferred
  • 1-2 star anise
Directions
  1. Decant the bourbon into a large glass jar with a wide mouth.
  2. Fry the bacon in a skillet to render the fat and, once it's cooled, strain the fat into the bourbon and close the jar. (Scarf down the bacon.)
  3. Let the bourbon sit out for about 6 hours and then put it in the freezer. Once the fat is completely hardened, scoop it all out with a slotted spoon (or your fingers).
  4. Meanwhile, make the cider syrup by combining all the ingredients in a small saucepan and simmering briskly until reduced to 2/3 cup. Strain out the star anise. Refrigerate until cold.
  5. For the Piggyback: Into a cocktail shaker with ice, pour 2 ozs bacon-infused bourbon, 1 1/2 ozs cider syrup and 1 oz fresh lemon juice and shake well. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. (You can double the ingredients and shake two at a time if you're not drinking alone.)
Contest Entries

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • lastnightsdinner
    lastnightsdinner
  • Collin
    Collin

2 Reviews

lastnightsdinner November 19, 2009
What a fun twist on this theme!
 
Collin November 19, 2009
Oh . . . oh wow.