How to Mix a “Game Season” Cocktail

With the whiskey boom showing no signs of stopping, it’s pretty easy to get intimidated by all of the new brands bending the shelves at the local liquor store. One brand that’s been having a slow burn since launching in 2012 is Virgil Kaine, founded by two chefs well-known throughout the South—Ryan Meany, who helped launch Charleston’s Husk, and David Szlam, who trained with Alice Waters at Chez Panisse.

As you can imagine, a whiskey brand with two chefs behind it is going to be flavor-forward, and to that end Virgil Kaine has three unique libations: a ginger-infused bourbon, a high-rye bourbon, and straight-up rye called Robber Baron. With a strong 96-percent rye topped with 4-percent bourbon and aged in new, charred-oak barrels, Robber Baron should have the kind of spicy, bold kick serious rye drinkers are looking for. In this cocktail, it’s blended with Root Liquor, which may be hard to come by. Try to subbing in another herbal, such as an amaro, or just splashing in a good root beer instead.

Game Season

Ingredients
1 oz. Root Liquor
2 oz. Virgil Kaine Robber Baron Rye
Top with Cream Soda
Orange peel for garnish (optional)

Directions
Add the root liquor and rye into a mixing glass with ice, and stir until chilled. Strain into an ice-filled old fashioned glass, and top with the cream soda. Garnish with an orange peel.