Italian (Heritage) Job

Looking for a twist on the classic Italian Stallion? Punt E Mes really punches up this stirred drink with more bitterness and a thick-tasting sweet vermouth flavor. I've done this drink (Italian Stallion) with Carpano Antica Vermouth, but never with a dry Irish-American whiskey. The usual recipe calls for Bourbon, which MurLarkey Heritage is not. But this particular combo is the strongest and most bitter iteration of the Italian Stallion I've made.

• 2 oz. Heritage Old Country Whiskey 
• 1 oz. Campari
• 1/2 oz. Punt E Mes sweet vermouth
• 1 dash orange bitters
• lemon twist

Combine all liquid ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the lemon twist. 

Italian Stallion

I've been wanting to make this drink for a long time, but required my own bottle of Campari to do it right. I selected Evan William's Single Barrel bourbon because of its spicy rye characteristics you won't find in Maker's Mark and Town Branch.

This turned out to be my most favorite Campari drink yet. The mellow bourbon notes with the extreme bitterness of Campari, plus the citrus and rich vermouth made this one taste like one of those $25 dollar barreled cocktails people are drinking in Georgetown lately. I mean this drink tasted so hand crafted and so perfectly balanced, it blew my mind that I could just throw it together at my home bar. I think that a lot of it was the quality of the bourbon and vermouth I chose, so I am including them in the recipe.

• 2 oz. bourbon (Evan William's Single Barrel 2004)
• 1 oz. Campari
• 1/2 oz. sweet vermouth (Carpano Antica)
• dash Angostura bitters
• lemon twist 

Combine all ingredients except lemon twist in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.