kentucky royale

1 1/2 oz Eagle Rare Bourbon
1/2 oz Cherry Heering
1/2 oz Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth
1 barspoon Luxardo Espresso Liqueur
2 dash Bittermens Xocolatl Mole Bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.
On Thursday night, Andrea and I traveled down to Franklin Southie for their Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare industry night event. On the menu were a half dozen Bourbon drinks and I picked two to sample that night. The first one I tried was the Kentucky Royale which bartender Joy Richard made for me. The drink started with a rich cherry nose with perhaps hints of chocolate and coffee aromas in the mix. The Kentucky Royale was rather spicy from the Bourbon which helped to dry out the sweetness from the Cherry Heering and sweet vermouth. Overall, it was a rather delightful cherryish Bourbon Manhattan with some interesting coffee and chocolate notes lingering on the swallow.