It seems Don Birnam's liquor of choice is rye whiskey. Curious as I am, I had to give it a try and see what the attraction was. I usually drink sweeter cocktails - never straight booze. So I visited the nearest BevMo and purchased some rye. Ugh, horrible stuff! Anyway, five years later I have about 3 ounces left in the bottle to drink.
shareAlthough Rye is not my poison, it's a fine spirit. Have it with ginger ale in a tall glass, it's called a Rye Press or make a Whiskey Sour, very refreshing. You can buy the mixer in a bottle at the market. Avoid the power version. Remember to shake it vigorously and garnish with a slice of orange and cherry. Enjoy.
shareMake a Old-Fashioned, its the original cocktail. Originally -- in 1806, at least, which is good enough for me. made up of a little water, a little sugar, a lot of liquor, and a couple splashes of bitters. Freeze the water, make it with whiskey, and you have an Old-Fashioned. And a mighty fine drink it is: strong, square-jawed, with just enough civilization to keep you from hollerin' like a mountain-jack.
The now customary fruit garnish -- all those orange slices, cherries, pineapple sticks and whatnot -- is, according to Jack Townsend, former head of the Bartenders Union of New York, Local 15, A.F.L., an example of the indignities that so many American cocktails had visited upon them under Prohibition. Anything to hide the taste of the liquor. A special no-no is the common practice of muddling the fruit with the sugar before pouring in the hooch. This turns a noble drink into a sickly, sweet, gooey mess. -
Place the sugar cube (or 1/2 teaspoon loose sugar) in an Old-Fashioned glass. Wet it down with 2 or 3 dashes of Angostura bitters and a short splash of water or club soda. Crush the sugar with a wooden muddler, chopstick, strong spoon, lipstick, cartridge case, whatever. Rotate the glass so that the sugar grains and bitters give it a lining. Add a large ice cube. Pour in the rye (or bourbon). Serve with a stirring rod.
Hope this helps.
I Drink from the Keg of Glory Donna
Try Templeton Rye. It can be a little pricey, but it is superior to the cheaper fare, which can be rather harsh.
Goat at Ruthless Reviews
You don't drink stuff like rye for the taste...
Try Old Overholt, it's a classic. It occasionally shows up in 1940s Bugs Bunny cartoons as "Old Overcoat."
As per the book, Don doesn't like Rye at all--when he drinks it he gulps it down trying not to taste it. He drinks it only to get drunk.
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