Bee Sharp: If you're down with B. Well, then you're down with me!

What's that?  I broke my hiatus?  Nah, I'm pretty sure I just sprained it...
Let's talk about that great band The Rentals.  There's this guy, Matt Sharp, who was the original bassist (and backup singer) for Weezer.  He also had a band called The Rentals.  They never found the level of success that Weezer enjoyed, but they had one hit single in 1995/6 called Friends of P.  It's super catchy, and immediately transports me back to a great moment in my life (no, I will not go into detail).  So, after hearing the song recently, I decided to craft a cocktail in honor of Matt Sharp...I call it the Bee Sharp.

Ingredients:
3 oz Bourbon - I used 2 oz Buffalo Trace & 1 oz Baker's
1 oz meyer lemon juice
1/2 to 1 tsp local honey (depending on the sweetness of the lemons)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (preferably homemade & tahitian)

Preparation:
Add bourbon, lemon juice, honey and vanilla to a cocktail shaker.  Stir well to mix.  Add ice and shake.  Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with a lemon twist, lemon 'navel', or vanilla bean.

Description:

The Bee Sharp is one of those kids that looks just like his dad.  Born of the Hot Toddy and Whiskey Sour, it is a simple, balanced cocktail.  As I've mentioned before, both vanilla and lemon are great accompaniments to bourbon, and this cocktail leans on each equally.  The meyer lemon lends more sweetness and complexity than a sunkist would, while the tahitian vanilla is simply unmatched for it's floral, earthy complexity.  Of course, the honey brings a key sweetness to balance the citric acid.  It also plays the dance partner to the vanilla.  Silly description?  Try it, you'll see.

Under The Cherry Moon

Ingredients:
2 oz Bourbon - Buffalo Trace
1 oz Sour Cherry Syrup - D'Arbo

1 oz Lime Juice - Fresh (one average lime)

Preparation:

Add bourbon, lime juice, and cherry syrup to a cocktail shaker with crushed ice.  Shake vigorously and strain into your favorite glass.  Twist some lime and rub the rim of the glass...and of course, enjoy!

Description:
A friend recently asked me about options for making a simple, "easy to enjoy" bourbon cocktail. It got me thinking, and somehow this was the result.  I may be biased, but I think this is one of the best "easy" bourbon drinks I've ever had.  Each ingredient is identifiable, with its own clear voice, while serving to build a brilliant chord.  The lime brightens the bourbon and tames the alcohol.  The cherry carries the vanilla and oak of the bourbon, while sweetening up the lime.  The bourbon brings a little warmth and earthly grounding to the nose and tongue.  It's a dangerously good roshambo of a cocktail.

I usually try a new recipe with a couple different bourbons, but the Buffalo Trace works well, and I only had time for one drink.  I'll probably try again with the last of my french-oaked Bulleit just to see how the balance holds up with a very different bourbon, but I'd guess just about any bourbon would taste good in this drink.

And while I normally prefer to make my own syrups for cocktails (more on this topic soon), the Sour Cherry from D'Arbo is outstanding.  Not sure where the wife bought it, or for how much, but the internets have heard of it, so there's no excuse for you not to buy some.