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THE BROOKLYN BUM








A friend of mine suggested the name THE BROOKLYN BUM as a possible drink, but no idea (he's a non-drinker) what it might be like.

So I played around with the idea and came up with this little coffee-colored beauty.


My mind went to the classic image of the bum, circa 1930s. Riding the rails and generally off the grid, as we would put it today. I figured all Brooklyn Bums (hobos) would love their Moonshine. That led to the base liquor of Bourbon, a Kentucky corn whiskey.

Secondly, we all know hobos and bums were a little Mad. So Absinthe, with its reputation for madness, was in order.

Third, most bums are a little angry about something in their past. Hence three drops of bitters.

And lastly, the iconic image of the scraggly bum included sitting around a campfire with a tin cup of the worst coffee imaginable. So coffee, an unusual ingredient, was required.



THE BROOKLYN BUM

Shot glass, lightly shaken with ice and strained

1 oz Bourbon
1/2 oz Absinthe 
1/4 oz cold or room temp coffee
3 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters

The absinthe's anise flavors smooth out the bourbon, sweetening it, while the bitters and coffee give it a smokey edge to (again) compliment the bourbon.


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