ricky bobby burns

1 1/2 oz Dewar's 12 Year Scotch
1/2 oz Cynar
1/2 oz Campari
1/2 oz Benedictine

Stir with ice, smoke a double old fashioned glass on a cedar plank, flip over the glass, place a large ice cube inside, and strain the drink.Two Wednesdays ago, I made it to Backbar at open to help bartender Alexis' right of passage -- namely his "First Fifty." When a new hire at Backbar is ready to get their wings, they have to make 50 drinks once (with the guest who ordered each crossing off the drink and initialing it). They are observed by a senior bartender to guide and correct them on their first shift behind the stick there. I like going as early so that I have the pick of the litter in hopes of spotting something that I have never had before. This time, I honed in on the Ricky Bobby Burns as a bitter and smoked riff on the classic Bobby Burns, and it reminded me of the a Drambuie drink called the Bitter Nail that they served five years ago at their sister bar, Ames Street Study.The Ricky Bobby Burns donated a cedar wood smoke aroma to the nose before leading into a caramel-driven sip. Next, Scotch, herbal, minty, and orange flavors rounded out the swallow.