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Whiskey Cocktail Hour: Bubbles Make it Better

New Year's Eve is right around the corner, so we've whipped up an original Scotch and sparkling wine cocktail to help you ring it in!
  • Emily is an opera singer turned whiskey enthusiast who loves crafting and sharing beautiful drinks.
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New Year’s Eve is right around the corner and I’m guessing you’ve already begun stocking up on some fine drams, and maybe even some bubbly for those non-whiskey friends of yours. Why not combine the two and make everyone happy this year?

This cocktail is a take on the Seelbach, a cocktail that was supposedly invented at the Seelbach Hotel in Louisville around 1817. But as it turns out Adam Seger, the drink’s inventor, recently admitted to making up the whole story behind the drink’s Pre-Prohibition history.

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Back in 1995, when Seger was put in charge of the cocktail program at the hotel, he was curious to unearth some old menus from the bar, hoping there might be a signature hotel cocktail. Finding no such cocktail, he decided to make one up, and thus the Seelbach Cocktail was born. The original recipe calls for bourbon, triple sec, angostura bitters, peychaud’s bitters, sparkling wine, and an orange twist garnish.

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I decided to do a simple swap, using Scotch instead of bourbon, and some tropical flavored bitters instead of the spice-heavy angostura and peychaud’s combo. I really enjoy the fruitiness of the bitters mixed with the complexity of the Scotch. The best part about this cocktail is that it’s a simple drink to throw together for your New Year’s Eve crowd. I hope you’ll mix a few up and tell me what you think.

Cheers to a new and better year!

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Bubbles Make It Better

  • 1 oz  Single Malt Scotch (I used Highland Park 12)
  • 1/2 oz  Cointreau
  • 5-6 dashes  Boy Drinks World Passionfruit Bitters
  • 4 dashes  Regan’s Orange Bitters
  • 4 oz  Dry Sparkling Wine
  • Flowers for garnish

Instructions: Chill all ingredients in an ice bucket for use when guests arrive. Build in a champagne glass or coupe, top with sparkling wine and garnish with a fresh flower. Cheers!!

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For more beautiful cocktails, check out the fern+shaker blog and follow @fernandshaker on Instagram.

Emily Ross-Johnson

Emily, a true Jane of All Trades, began her career as an opera singer in the vibrant heart of New York City. Over time, her passions led her to the exciting world of food and beverages. Throughout her professional journey, she has graced the stage at the prestigious Carnegie Hall, founded her own Whiskey Society, represented numerous spirit brands, and managed multiple successful bar programs. Emily's creative spirit shines through in her love for crafting and photographing beautiful drinks, which she eagerly shares with others.

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