Smooth Moves
This savory, spicy, citrusy wonder from Lead Bartender Oliver Miller of the Red Hog Butcher Shop & Restaurant was created for the Cocktail and Culinary Challenge at the 2023 Bourbon Classic in Louisville. This competition was all about pairing a cocktail with a dish. In this case, the Smooth Moves was designed to pair perfectly with the Red Hog Sausage small plate. The crowd-pleasing combination was so delicious it earned the People’s Choice pairing award for 2023.
Smooth Moves
● 2 oz soy mash-infused Barrell Bourbon Batch No. 034 (recipe below)
● 1/2 oz plum, cardamom, and pepper syrup (recipe below)
● 4 drops yuzu bitters
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Stir until well-chilled, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Soy mash infused Barrell Bourbon Batch 034
● 1 oz soy mash
● 8 oz bourbon
Combine soy mash and bourbon. Infuse for 30 minutes, then double strain through a coffee filter.
Plum, cardamom, and pepper syrup
● 400 grams fresh plum juice
● 400 grams white sugar
● 150 grams chopped prunes
● 6 grams black peppercorns
● 10 cardamom pods
Remove pits and juice fresh plums. Combine plum juice and sugar and bring to a boil. Add in the rest of the ingredients, turn down the heat to medium low, and cover with a lid. Steep for 30 minutes. Strain everything through a fine mesh strainer, pressing on solids to extract as much syrup as possible.