Although Scotch is my preferred drink, I have been sampling many of the Tennessee whiskeys since moving to East Tennessee. They are pretty good.

I was experimenting with some cocktail recipes and I came up with this:

• 1.5 oz Whiskey
• 3.0 oz Fresh Orange Juice
• 0.5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 Splash Vanilla Extract (or Vanilla Simple Syrup)

Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously (never stir, you want the aeration) for 15 seconds until chilled and frothy. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange wheel.

I must say, it’s pretty good. The whiskey provides a robust foundation. The orange juice softens the alcohol, making it refreshing. The lemon juice adds the necessary sharp acidity to cut through the sweetness.The vanilla (extract or syrup) is the secret weapon. It rounds out the citrus edges and mimics the natural vanillin found in charred oak whiskey barrels. It gives the whole drink an “aged” taste.


The “Urban” name is attached to other cocktails, I’ve noticed:

The Urban Gardini (martini)

• 2 oz Gin (Ideally a botanical or garden-forward gin)
• ½ oz Dry Vermouth (like Noilly Prat)
• ⅓ oz Club-Mate Reduction (Club-Mate soda simmered down to 1/5th its volume to create a concentrated, earthy sweetness)
• 1 Bar spoon Green Chartreuse (or Chartreuse Elixir Vegetal)
• Garnish: A small handful of fresh garden herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage) and a lemon twist

The Urban Violence (!)

• 1 oz Vodka
• 1 oz Coconut Rum (such as Malibu)
• ¾ oz Blue Curaçao
• Top with: Tropicana Strawberry-Orange-Banana fruit juice blend (historically called Tropicana Twister)

I’m calling my drink just “The Urban.” It’s my name: I got the rights, I think.

A few months back I flew down to Florida and hit some of the great waterfront bars in Clearwater Beach. The bartenders there always offered to add a “float” to any cocktail you ordered. Those floats really add a kick to that first sip. To add a float correctly, you should place a spoon over the top of the cocktail and dribble the float in, so it “floats” on top.

If you want to add a float to The Urban, try one of these:

• Dark or Aged Rum
• Grand Marnier or Cointreau
• Amaretto
• Overproof Bourbon or Rye
• Mezcal
• Campari

Any of the above will add that kick to that first sip, before the cocktail settles down. Enjoy!