Wild Turkey Cocktail Recipes – Tax Day Edition

Last week I received an email from the fine folks at Wild Turkey that contained not only some Wild Turkey cocktail recipes, but also the following opening line.

Legendary whiskey aficionado Benjamin Franklin once said, “The only things certain in life are death and taxes.” On Tax Day, sit back and enjoy what Uncle Sam simply can’t touch – the smooth taste of bourbon, courtesy of a delicious Wild Turkey bourbon cocktail.

Now . . .  if you owe the government money just have Wild Turkey 101 on the rocks.

Those who know their bourbon history realize that Uncle Sam has always had their hand on bourbon – especially when it comes to taxes. In fact, unless I remember this wrong, up to 50% of a bottle of bourbon’s cost is actually attributed to taxes. That’s a pretty steep tax charge in my opinion but my love for bourbon keeps me coming back for more. The irony of course is that Uncle Sam helped to protect bourbon by making it America’s only native spirit and putting in place some pretty strict rules about how it’s made.

So on this tax day, as many of us bitch and moan about the government taking an ever increasing slice of our pie, let’s put the issues aside and raise our glasses to America’s one, and only, native spirit.

The MoneyMaker

Created by Franky Marshall, Clover Club

2 oz Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon
1 Barspoon Demerara Syrup
2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
2 Dashes Orange Bitters (1-1 Fee’s & Regan’s)

Stir and strain over ice into an Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with lemon and orange twists.

The Civic Duty

2 parts Wild Turkey 101
1 1/2 parts sweet vermouth
1 dash bitters

Stir well with cracked ice and strain into a Manhattan or chilled martini glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

The Painkiller

Wild Turkey 101 on the rocks