winter hill

2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon (Old Tub Bonded)
1/2 oz Cointreau
2 wedge Lemon
2 wedge Satsuma (*)
2 dash Chocolate Bitters (Bittermens Mole)

Muddle the citrus, add the rest, and strain into a pre-heated Irish coffee mug (Toddy glass). Top with hot water and garnish with a lemon wheel studded with 4 cloves.
(*) Sub tangerine or mandarin orange.

When the copy of Left Coast Libations was out, Andrea spotted the Winter Hill recipe, and she mentioned that we could get satsumas at Trader Joe's. Satsumas are a citrus fruit that originated in China that came to our country through Japan, and this mandarin-pomelo hybrid tastes a lot like a tangerine. I was intrigued for we live in Winter Hill in Somerville, MA, and a little over 12 years ago, I named an early cocktail of mine that as well. The following day, we bought a bag of satsumas and made this Hot Toddy by James Pierce at Portland's 50 Plates.With the steam coming off the drink, the Winter Hill was rather aromatic with chocolate, citrussy-orange, and Bourbon notes. Next, a tart lemon and tangerine on the sip gave way to tart orange and Bourbon flavors on the swallow with a chocolate finish. Overall, the lemon was a bit much here given the hot format; when it cooled down, the Toddy came across as tea like and well balanced though. Something closer to a 1/4 oz of lemon juice would probably mitigate this perception of citrus' acid being too intense when heated.