Top Hat

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Cocktail History

The Top Hat is a modern cocktail that was created in 2021 by Alex Sukopp, former bartender of the retired Instagram account Sips From Scripts, for his wedding at Villa Bellezza Winery & Vineyards in Pepin, Wisconsin. The recipe is a very simple variation of the Brown Derby, a vintage drink from the 1930s, that adds rosemary, grapefruit, and peppercorn-flavored bitters to the classic’s mix of whiskey, grapefruit, and honey.

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, with other grains, water, and yeast, which are distilled and then aged in new charred oak barrels to develop a rich, caramelized flavor.

Grapefruit Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe grapefruits that has a sweet-tart citrus flavor and light pink color.

Honey Syrup: This is a sweetener made with honey and water, which are heated and infused into a syrup with a sweet flavor.

Rosemary, Grapefruit, & Peppercorn Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with rosemary, grapefruit peels, black peppercorns, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a tart, slightly bitter flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Buffalo Trace Distillery Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• 🔗 Monin Premium Honey Syrup
• 🔗 Crude Bitters “Rizzo” Rosemary, Grapefruit, & Peppercorn Bitters

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker made with a large metal tin and a second tin or mixing glass that’s used for shaking and chilling cocktail ingredients.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a flat metal strainer with a handle and a coiled spring around the edge that’s used for straining shaken cocktails from a shaker while holding back ice and solids.

Cutting Board: This is a flat, durable kitchen surface made from materials like wood or plastic that’s used for slicing ingredients and preparing garnishes.

Paring Knife: This is a small kitchen knife with a narrow, sharp blade that’s used for peeling fruit and trimming garnishes.

Electric Citrus Juicer: This is a kitchen appliance with a motorized reamer that’s used for quickly extracting juice from citrus fruits.

Fine Mesh Strainer: This is a mesh metal strainer with a tightly woven bowl and handle that’s used for straining out small ice shards and other solids while pouring cocktails from a shaker or mixing glass.

Measuring Cup: This is a kitchen tool with a handled cup and marked volume measurements that’s used for accurately measuring and pouring liquid ingredients.

Coupe Glass: This is a stemmed glass with a shallow, wide bowl that’s used for serving shaken cocktails and sparkling drinks without ice.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
• 🔗 BLACK+DECKER 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer
• 🔗 Barfly Silver Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Angled Measuring Cup
• 🔗 Cocktail Kingdom Leopold Coupe Glass

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Brilliant amber orange hue

• Aroma: Bourbon accented with citrus and vanilla

• Taste: Robust sweetness from the honey and grapefruit that’s balanced by the bitters’ complexity and a smooth, oaky bourbon backbone

• Finish: Delicate spices and tangy citrus

Kendall’s Take
“The Top Hat holds a special place for me because it was one of the cocktails served at a beautiful wedding I attended, so recreating it always feels a little nostalgic. It’s essentially an easy twist on the Brown Derby, with bright citrus and multi-faceted bitters balancing the richness of the bourbon in a really satisfying way. The result is smooth and surprisingly easy to sip. If you enjoy bourbon drinks with a citrusy edge, this one is definitely worth mixing up.”

Recipe