Revolver

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Cocktail History

The Revolver is a modern cocktail that was created in the early 2000s by Jon Santer in San Francisco, California. The recipe uses the Manhattan template but deepens its flavors by adding the boldness of coffee and the tang of citrus. Back in the day, it was originally made with Bulleit bourbon, hence its name, as well as coffee liqueur, simple syrup, and orange bitters, and it specifically calls for flamed citrus peel for the flavor, aroma, and flair it lends.

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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 Buffalo Trace Distillery Benchmark Bourbon.

Coffee Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with coffee, spices, sugar, and alcohol. I used Mr. Black Spirits Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur.

Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.

Orange Bitters: This is a food product made with oranges, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Angostura Orange Bitters.

Orange Twist: This is the peel of an orange that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.

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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.

Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. I used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.

Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.

Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is stirred. I used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.

Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.

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Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Dark brown color

• Aroma: Singed citrus and coffee

• Taste: Bold coffee-forward flavor complemented by bourbon spice and orange zest

• Finish: Sharp bourbon notes and lingering dark coffeee

Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Kendall’s Take: "I have come a long way in my journey to enjoying a good whiskey drink. When I started tastings a few years ago, I could barely drink the stuff, and now I do request a bourbon or rye-based cocktail on occasion. That said, I thought I would really enjoy the Revolver, but it was just too heavy on the bourbon spice for me. I chalked it up to not using the brands listed in the book, but I don't think this one is for me regardless. I still need more ingredients in my whiskey cocktails for balance."

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Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold-Weather Cocktails by the editors of PUNCH.