The Boulevardier may be a slightly unusual choice for your first drink in a bar, but if you’re a fan of Manhattans and Negronis, then this might well be a cocktail for you. The Boulevardier combines elements of both classics to strike the perfect balance between bitterness and sweetness. My first experience with this drink was after a whisky tasting about a decade ago. It was bought by a good customer, an American, and he was dead set on the fact I’d like it. He was very wrong.
However, times have changed and I’m a fan of all things boozy and bitter. With a little bit of experimenting at home, I’ve been able to put together a list of five great spirits you can put into your Boulevardier to make it a little more unique.
How To Make A Boulevardier Cocktail
Recipe-wise, I’d go with a classic 2:1:1 ratio for the Boulevardier. However, feel free to play with the ratios to find out which you prefer.
Ingredients:
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- 2oz of Bourbon
- 1oz of Campari
- 1oz of Red Vermouth.
Method:
- Grab your favorite martini/coupe glass and put ice in it, or place it in the freezer a few hours before.
- In a mixing jug, place all of your ingredients, plenty of ice and chill down until you see condensation on the outside of the jug, and the ice starts to loosen. Don’t forget to taste it too before you decant it.
- Empty the ice from your glass, or remove it from the freezer, single strain your
- Enjoy!
Wild Turkey 101
BUY NOW: $24
A solid budget option for anyone who loves neat bourbon, or wants to experiment in a fun cocktail at home. With a 75% corn mash bill, backed up by about 13% rye in the mix, Wild Turkey 101 has the power to work its way through most stirred-down drinks with ease.
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This makes for an interesting Boulevardier, as the buttery nature of those corn notes really flies in this combination of liquids.
If you’re looking to push it into being a more powerful product with a bigger hit, I’d recommend upgrading to Wild Turkey Rare Breed, older stock, more oak, and barrel proof.
Widow Jane 10 Year Old Bourbon
BUY NOW: $60
This is a slightly more expensive option, but for good reason.
I’m a huge fan of Widow Jane. I visited the distillery back in 2018 before the operation grew to what it is today. A distillery that is half chocolate factory, half whiskey distillery, what more do you actually want in life?
Now this is a blend of other straight whiskeys from around the USA. However, I think a chunk of it is now from Widow Jane’s own stocks. A blend of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana straight bourbons, all married together in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
Combining this whiskey with some Campari and red vermouth of your choice is one of the nicest experiences you can have with a stirred-down drink. An oakier, more intense style of Boulevardier that sits down deep and heavy, a real chest warmer of a product that just dwells with you as you work through the glass. It does become a little sweeter as you work down, finishing with some lovely caramel corn notes. Stunning.
Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
BUY NOW: $47
We’ve just done a formal review of Eagle Rare for the website, so if it is up in time then you should go and have a read of that for some more in-depth tasting notes.
When combined with red vermouth, Eagle Rare just takes on another level of deep, rich, red wine-styled profile.
When putting Eagle Rare 10 Year Old into a Boulevardier, I’d recommend going with a red vermouth that is a little sweeter, just to contrast the Campari more, and help balance out some of the older, drier notes that Eagle Rare can generate on its finish. Something like Carpano Antica Formula is a vermouth with extra vanilla in it, not a true classic vermouth, but something that is beautiful when stirred down with most whiskeys.
Mellow Corn
BUY NOW: $20
Right, it’s party time. So this is cheap and cheerful and is one of the best bang-for-buck options that you can have on your back bar.
A corn whiskey, rather than a bourbon, and matured in refill casks, this whiskey cuts through any stirred-down combo like a knife. But it also has those lovely sweet tones of corn and butter, along with 100-proof liquid inside will give you plenty of value for money.
Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged
BUY NOW: $499
So here’s a pricey option, one that’s rather hard to find, but I’m lucky enough to own a bottle of this. It’s good, but it isn’t mind-blowing, and you definitely shouldn’t overpay for it. Maker’s Mark makes a point of trying to sell it as ‘not bitter’ – but it is and it’s a good thing that it is. Older bourbon with no drying sensation or bitterness would be a little boring in my opinion.
Maker’s Mark cask strength would also be a solid option for a Boulevardier cocktail, even the standard 46, or regular label. But if you come across this bottle in a bar, or if you’re lucky enough to own one, I’d highly recommend combining this with red vermouth and Campari for a perfectly woody, dry, powerful, oaky, and sweet Boulevardier.
A Brief History Of The Boulevardier Cocktail
The Boulevardier cocktail traces its origins to the 1920s, during the Prohibition era when many American bartenders found refuge in Europe. It was created by Erskine Gwynne, an American expatriate living in Paris, who founded a literary magazine called The Boulevardier.
Gwynne was a regular at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, a popular haunt for American expats and the birthplace of many classic cocktails. The Boulevardier was Gwynne’s signature drink, a variation of the Negroni, substituting gin with bourbon or rye whiskey, reflecting his American roots.
The recipe for the Boulevardier was first recorded in the 1927 book Barflies and Cocktails by Harry MacElhone. MacElhone states on page 80: “Now it is the time for all good Barflies to come to the aid of the party, since Erskine Gwynne crashed in with his Boulevardier Cocktail; ⅓ Campari, ⅓ Italian vermouth, ⅓ Bourbon whisky.”
The cocktail’s blend of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Campari offers a rich, warming twist on the Negroni’s bitter-sweet profile, perfectly suited for colder weather.
Although it was initially a somewhat obscure drink, the Boulevardier has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, becoming a favorite among modern cocktail enthusiasts.
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