The Perfect Turkey Cocktail

 The Perfect Turkey Cocktail

This classic little riff on the perfect Manhattan is one of my favorite holiday inspired cocktails, and I’ve run it on the Revival Bar + Kitchen menu for the past few years during the week of Thanksgiving. It’s seasonal, warms you right up, and most importantly, gets you hella drunk when your family is visiting.

The Perfect Turkey

adapted from Epicurious.com

2 oz Wild Turkey 101 rye or bourbon

.5 oz Vya sweet vermouth

.5 oz Noilly Prat dry vermouth

3 dashes maple bitters

Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass filled with ice for 20-30 seconds, or until you’re happy with the temperature and dilution. Strain into a chilled cocktail vessel of your choice. Garnish with an orange twist.

If you’re feeling fancy...

For a sweeter version you can stick with the Epicurious-recommended garnish of a spiced sugar rim. I like to add a little dried orange peel into the mix. It’s fairly simple to prepare and keeps well up to about a year after you’ve made it in an airtight container.

orange peels from one medium orange, dehydrated

¼ cup sugar

¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg

⅛ tsp freshly grated cinnamon

pinch of allspice

In a small food processor or spice mill, zap until fully integrated and the orange pieces are as small as you like.  Then pour onto a saucer. Use a piece of orange to wet the rim of the cocktail glass, then dip the glass into the sugar mixture.

I chose to keep my peels on the chunky side for texture, but most like them as a finer powder.