Hair Raiser Cocktail

Look at that gorgeous hair on the can of Slow & Low.

The Hair Raiser is a tart vodka cocktail that is only sweetened by Rock And Rye. This is a little bit too bad, because Rock and Rye has a great flavor that is largely covered up by the tart lemon juice. The result is a puckeringly sour Lemon Drop that has some flavor of rock candy, rye and a dash of orange zest.

Slow & Low rock and rye is flavored with citrus zest. It is a good cocktail in itself. I think the point of this cocktail is that you can sort of call it a whiskey cocktail, and it is so sour your hair might stand up.

• 2 oz. vodka
• 1/2 oz. rock and rye
• 1 oz. lemon juice

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

Rock And Rye Cooler

So Rock and Rye is a cocktail itself. It comes bottled, but it would be easy to make at home. It is basically rock candy sugar and rye.

This Slow & Low Rock and Rye is all over the Virginia liquor store counters lately. It comes in these 100 ml. cans that make for a quick drink when you pop the top. You're good for about two drinks with a single can.

So the cooler is really potent because it is basically a Vodka Collins that uses Rock and Rye as the sweetener. It's good, if a little bland. But it does its job as advertised. If you use 100 proof vodka and 86 proof Rock and Rye, like I did, there's no need for a second drink.

• 2 oz. vodka
• 1 1/2 oz. rock and rye
• 1 oz. lime juice
• bitter lemon soda
• lime slice

 Combine vodka, rock and rye and juice in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a Collins glass full of fresh ice. Top with soda and garnish with the lime slice.