Editor’s note: We asked
Albany's best mixologists to create an original cocktail recipe that embodies
the true Spirit of Albany. Today, we highlight The Kennedy Sour, created by Robert
Mack of Yono’s/dp, using product from the nearby Albany Distilling Company.
What do you get when you mix Bourbon, grapefruit juice, and
some bitters? Something truly delicious, of course. Not overpowering in the
least, the Kennedy Sour is a balanced and delightful concoction that is
pleasing to even the non- or not-so-often bourbon drinker.
Though simple in construction, the result seems the product
of hard labor and careful execution on behalf of the bartender. That’s the art
of this drink.
The Kennedy Sour is a tribute to Albany native and Pulitzer
Prize-winning author, William Kennedy, who has written such novels as Legs,
Billy Phelan’s Greatest Game, Ironweed (the namesake of the Bourbon used to
create this cocktail), and O Albany!, a non-fictional account of Albany.
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| The Kennedy Sour |
Take a tour of the Albany Distilling Company to learn how
the Ironweed Bourbon is created, then walk to the nearby dp’s/Yono’s and order
up the Kennedy Sour. Sip slowly, and be transported back in time to when
legendary gangster Jack ‘Legs’ Diamond (also known as Gentleman Jack) was
bootlegging and gambling around Albany back in the 1920s. And if you’re really
getting into the story, walk up to
67 Dove Street in the Center Square
neighborhood for a look at the house in which he was murdered.
When you've finished your stroll, head to
www.albany.org/spiritofalbany for
the full recipe and other Spirit of Albany drinks. Don’t forget to vote for
your favorite recipe, which may earn the title of the 2013 Spirit of Albany.
Remember to have fun, but be smart. Designate a driver!
