Moonriver #7 - The Four Gears

I recently had another opportunity to draft some more drinks for my fellow players, and what began as an exploration of whiskey pairings turned into something truly special.  A drink I find myself returning to just as often as I would to my token Grandfather drink (a hit among my players, and something that they're now testing with ice cream? - I'll have to follow up on that one).

  The concept is simple.  Each "gear" is a whiskey, and the blend may not be what you expect.  This was originally crafted and tested by my palette, which struggles with bourbon, so the measurements aren't equal.  Good thing, too, because not every whiskey's flavor is created equal.  If one flavor is equally as powerful at 1 oz as another at 3 oz, we have to adjust volume appropriately, so the sum is a smoother kick.
Let's get into it!

The Mix

5 oz Fireball (Cinnamon Whiskey)
2 oz Drambuie (Scotch Liqueur)
3 oz Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey
1 oz Four Roses Bourbon Whiskey
2-4 dashes Aromatic Bitters
Top with Ginger Ale OR Coca-Cola
*Makes 2-4 Shooters, depending on soda pour

The Follow-Through

Especially considering the delicate nature of my tummy and my limited exposure to certain alcohols, this began as a purely academic exercise in flavor and mixology.  Even this early on, I could not have predicted the level of self-discovery in this pursuit.  Finding a use for Gin, a love of Whiskey and Bitters, keenly paying attention to the smells and tastes of liquor and actively imagining their pairings...this is a skill.  And I feel like I was meant for it.  :)  
  Not like I'm amazing at it.  I'm just ENJOYING THE HECK OUT OF IT.  And, hey, it's exciting to discover things about yourself!

As for the drink, the Cinnamon and Scotch elevate each other, while the Bourbon darkens that pairing, and the Jack Honey is the bridge between them.  The Bitters bind the mix, and the sugars of the soda brighten it for simpler stomachs.  Personally, the Coca-Cola wins over the Ginger Ale.

Pick your poison.  Enjoy your discoveries.  And please, drink responsibly.
See you at the table.
-Adamus