The Boulevardier is an elegant three-ingredient stirred cocktail featuring bourbon, botanic bitters and sweet vermouth in equal parts. It bears a striking resemblance to the Negroni, with the only difference being bourbon instead of gin, and whilst it’s often assumed to be a twist on that famous Italian drink, the resemblance may only be coincidence with both cocktails appearing at roughly the same time.
The bourbon in this drink completely changes the profile of the cocktail from a dry, bitter mixture to one that is sweet, herbal, warm and mildly fruity. The Boulevardier can be made in a mixing glass and served over fresh ice or simply made in the same glass it’s going to be served in.
INGREDIENTS:
🥃 25ml Bourbon
🌱 Botanic Bitters
🍷 25ml Sweet Vermouth
🍊 Orange Twist for Garnish
EQUIPMENT:
- Mixing Glass/Boston Glass or Large Rocks Glass
- Jigger/Measure
- Bar Spoon
- Julep Strainer/Hawthorn Strainer
- Cubed Ice
METHOD:
1) Using your jigger to measure add all ingredients to your mixing glass, Boston glass or rocks glass
2) Fill with cubed ice
3) Stir for around 30 seconds or until the liquid has roughly doubled in volume
4) If making in a mixing glass or Boston glass, strain into a large rocks glass filled with cubed ice
5) If making in a rocks glass, simply top with more fresh cubed ice
6) Garnish with an orange twist
7) Serve and enjoy
HISTORY:
The Boulevardier is generally believed to have been created by American writer Erskine Gwynne during the 1920s. With prohibition in full swing back home, Gwynne like so many other writers of his generation, made for Paris. There he started a literary magazine called the Boulevardier. Gwynne was a prolific barfly, often seen enjoying a cocktail at Paris’s famous watering holes, including the iconic Harry’s New York Bar, the birthplace of many classic cocktails, and home of their creator, Harry MacElhone.
In the epilogue of his 1927 book Barflies and Cocktails, MacElhone gave honourable mention to Mr. Gwynne and his personal cocktail, named after his magazine; “Now is the time for all good barflies to come to the aid of the party, since Erskine Gwynne crashed in with his Boulevardier Cocktail: 1/3 Campari, 1/3 Italian Vermouth, 1/3 Bourbon whisky.”
Whether inspired by the Negroni or the result of inadvertent synchronicity, the Boulevardier has held its own as a revered and respected classic cocktail, Writing for Serious Eats, Paul Clarke says this of the Boulevardier:
“A simple substitution? Hardly. The bittersweet interplay between Campari and vermouth remains, but the whiskey changes the storyline. Where the Negroni is crisp and lean, the Boulevardier is rich and intriguing. There’s a small difference in the preparation, but the result is absolutely stunning.”
ABOUT THE MIXOLOGY GUIDE:
If you’re interested in any and all things mixology-related, our Mixology Guide has been designed as your one-stop-shop. Whether you’re a bartender looking to brush up knowledge of the finer points of single malt distillation, or a total newcomer to drinking culture in general, there should be a little something in there for everyone.
We’re constantly updating our database, so if you can’t find what you’re after please feel free to get in touch and we’ll see what we can do!
Full Database: mixologyevents.co.uk/mixology-guide/
ABOUT US:
Since being set up in 2009, Mixology Events (mixologyevents.co.uk) has been dedicated to all things related to high-quality alcoholic beverages. We offer an extensive range of experiences - from tastings and bar hires, to award-winning 100% interactive cocktail classes (mixologyevents.co.uk/classes/cocktail-making-classes-london/) which we’ve taken with us on the road to a huge range of venues across the UK and beyond.
Our flagship venue, TT Liquor (ttliquor.co.uk) - where this video was filmed - is located in the heart of Hoxton. Set over 4 floors, it encompasses a subterranean bar, vintage cinema space, tasting vaults that were converted from ex-Victorian police cells, a brand-new garden roof terrace, and a series of adaptable event spaces. We even converted our home into a safely socially distanced box-packing factory for all our virtual classes during the lockdown era.
MORE LINKS:
Book A Class: mixologyevents.co.uk/classes/...
Browse TT Liquor's Site: ttliquor.co.uk/
#whiskey #bourbon #bourboncocktails #buffalotrace