Slow Comfortable

Slow Comfortable

A modern American stirred cocktail built on bourbon, coffee liqueur and a touch of cream, served over a single large ice cube for a slow, easy sip. The name nods to the unhurried pace of an afternoon at a neighborhood bar.

Prep

5 min

Total

5 min

Serves

1

Difficulty

Easy

Recipe ingredients

• •60 ml (2 fl oz) bourbon whiskey, use a mid-shelf bourbon such as Buffalo Trace or Wild Turkey 101; rye works for a drier version
• •20 ml (⅔ fl oz) coffee liqueur, such as Kahlúa or Mr Black; for an Italian-leaning version, use a coffee-infused bitter amaro
• •15 ml (½ fl oz) heavy cream, or half-and-half for a lighter body; do not use milk as the drink will be thin
• •5 ml (1 tsp) simple syrup (1:1), optional, only if your bourbon is very dry
• •2 dashes Angostura bitters
• •1 piece large clear ice cube, 1 large cube keeps dilution slow; home substitute: freeze water in a clean loaf tin, then score and break into ~5 cm cubes
• •1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg, for the finish

Steps

1. 1 Chill a rocks glass (also called an Old Fashioned glass) by filling it with cold water and setting it aside, or placing it in the freezer for 10 minutes.
2. 2 Add the bourbon, coffee liqueur, heavy cream, simple syrup (if using) and Angostura bitters to a mixing glass. Fill the mixing glass about two-thirds full with cubed ice.
3. 3 Stir gently with a bar spoon for 20 to 25 seconds. You want the drink to chill and dilute slightly while staying clear; shaking with cream will turn it foamy like a White Russian, which is a different drink.
4. 4 Discard the ice water from the chilled rocks glass and drop in the large ice cube.
5. 5 Strain the cocktail from the mixing glass over the large cube.
6. 6 Grate a small pinch of fresh nutmeg across the top of the drink and serve without a straw so the sip is slow and the aroma reaches the nose first.