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Cocktail History
The Home Fires is an autumn cocktail that was created by author Jassy Davis and was first published in her book Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn & Winter. It’s a unique variation of the classic Whiskey Sour that is made with whiskey, almond, citrus, and sherry, the combination of which was inspired by the author’s sister’s favorite spirits and the warmth of a fire in the wintertime.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Bourbon: This is a type of whiskey made in the United States with at least 51% corn, grains, malted barley, and water. I used Eagle Park Distilling Bourbon.
Amaretto Liqueur: This is a liqueur made in Italy with almonds, spices, and alcohol. I used Di Amore Amaretto Liqueur.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. I used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Pedro Ximénez Sherry: This is a type of white wine made in Spain with Pedro Ximénez grapes.
Islay Scotch: This is a type of of Scotch whisky made in southern Scotland with with spices, alcohol, water, and malt or grain that has been dried with peat fires. I used Ardbeg 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Aromatic Bitters: This is a food product made with botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Angostura Aromatic Bitters.
Cherry: This is a fruit that has been soaked in brandy and rich syrup. I used Luxardo Maraschino Cherries.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. I used one from the KingSeal Bamboo Knot Cocktail Pick Set.
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Brown-ish orange color
• Aroma: Peat and allspice
• Taste: Fairly dry flavor with bourbon’s backbone, earthy Scotch and sherry, a hint of nuttiness, and citrus
• Finish: Lingering lemon and savory sherry
Kendall’s Take: “Of the whiskies, bourbon is my favorite, so I assumed I would like this drink quite a bit when I saw it in the book. The only ingredient that had me raising an eyebrow was the Islay Scotch. Not much of the stuff is used, but even so, I usually find its peaty taste too distracting in cocktails. I was wrong in this case! I would say sipping on the Home Fires is an excellent way of dipping your toe into the smoky spirit. You get a hint of the Scotch’s taste, but it lets the rest of the ingredients shine too. This gets a ‘Yes, I would make it again’ from me.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was found in the book Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn & Winter by Jassy Davis.
Home Fires
Description
The Home Fires is an autumn cocktail that was created by author Jassy Davis and was first published in her book Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn & Winter. It's a unique variation of the classic Whiskey Sour that is made with whiskey, almond, citrus, and sherry, the combination of which was inspired by the author's sister's favorite spirits and the warmth of a fire in the wintertime.
Ingredients
Method
Add whiskey, amaretto liqueur, lemon juice, sherry, Scotch, and bitters to a shaker.
Fill shaker with cubed ice.
Shake for 30-45 seconds.
Using a Hawthorne and fine mesh strainer, strain into a coupe glass.
Garnish with cherry.
