Even if you don’t have a literal drunk uncle, you can still find someone exuding Drunk Uncle Energy at the dinner table. The prototypical Drunk Uncle loves brown spirits, big ice cubes, and completely made-up “facts,” so why not give him two out of three of these with a variation on the Old Fashioned? The good news? After a Drunk Uncle Cocktail, a turkey dinner, and a La-Z-Boy, he’ll be passed out with the remote in no time. Hey, don’t change the channel…he’s watching that!
Drunk Uncle Recipe
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Drunk Uncle
Description
This playful twist on the Old Fashioned mixes cognac, rye, and a rich brown butter syrup for a smooth, indulgent cocktail. Finished with bitters and an orange peel over a big ice cube, it’s the perfect drink for anyone bringing “Drunk Uncle Energy” to the table.
Ingredients
- 4 cups brown sugar
- 2 cups water
- 1 stick salted butter
- 1 oz Remy Martin VSOP Cognac
- 1 oz Old Overholt 114 Rye
- 1/2 oz brown butter syrup
- 4 dashes Angostura bitters
- 2 dashes Regan’s Orange bitters
- Orange peel
Instructions
For the Syrup:
- In a pot over medium heat, add 4 cups brown sugar to 2 cups water, stirring until completely dissolved.
- In a small saucepan, add 1 stick of salted butter, whisking continuously over medium-low heat until the butter has melted completely and it begins to brown and foam.
- Remove from heat and slowly add your brown butter into your brown sugar syrup.
- Remove brown butter syrup from heat and let sit for 30-40 minutes or until it reaches room temperature.
- Strain through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer. Bottle and refrigerate for up to one month.
For the Cocktail:
- Add all ingredients to a large mixing glass, top with ice, and stir to combine–about 20-30 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with an expressed orange peel.
Story by Maggie Weaver
Recipes by Kaitlin Fellers
Styling by Keith Recker
Photography by Dave Bryce
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