I wanted to try something a little less hidden, and the cabinet seems to be overstocked with whiskeys, so a bit of research unveiled the Revolver. It was originally created with Bulleit (bullet/revolver…get it?) Bourbon in San Fran back in the early 2000s as a reversal on the old tradition of adding a shot of bourbon to one’s coffee.
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon (Bulleit recommended)
- 0.5 oz Tia Maria
- 2 dashes bitters (orange)
- wide strip of zest (orange or lemon)
Mix bourbon, Tia Maria and bitters in a mixing glass with ice and stir for 30 seconds or so until well chilled. Strain into a chilled glass. Twist peel over drink and use as garnish.
The verdict: I liked it, but then I am the whiskey drinker of the bunch. It has that distinct whiskey demeanour, softened slightly by the coffee liqueur with lots of little subtleties. Sipping was slow until our taste buds adjusted, and by the time the glasses were empty, it had garnered opinions ranging from “meh” to “tasty.” We used lemon instead of orange zest (because that’s what we had on hand), but I like the lemon—it added a bit of sweet zing at the end.