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Cocktail History
The Home Fires is a fall cocktail that was created by author Jassy Davis and was first published in her book Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn & Winter. It’s a unique variation of the classic Whiskey Sour that is made with whiskey, almond, citrus, and sherry, the combination of which was inspired by the author’s sister’s favorite spirits and the warmth of a fire in the wintertime.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Bourbon: This is a type of whiskey made in the United States with at least 51% corn, grains, malted barley, and water. We used Eagle Park Distilling Bourbon because it has a smooth flavor despite its high-rye mashbill. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Spiritless Kentucky 74 Non-Alcoholic Bourbon Whiskey in place of the whiskey.
Amaretto Liqueur: This is a liqueur made in Italy with almonds, spices, and alcohol. We used Di Amore Amaretto Liqueur because it has a strong almond flavor and a smooth texture. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Premium Amaretto Syrup in place of the amaretto liqueur.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. We used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Pedro Ximénez Sherry: This is a type of white wine made in Spain with Pedro Ximénez grapes. For a mocktail version of this drink, try non-alcoholic sherry flavoring in place of the sherry.
Islay Scotch: This is a type of of Scotch whisky made in southern Scotland with with spices, alcohol, water, and malt or grain that has been dried with peat fires. We used Ardbeg 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky because it has a strong peaty flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Escape Mocktails Green Label Single Malt Whiskey Non-Alcoholic Alternative in place of the whisky.
Aromatic Bitters: This is a food product made with botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Angostura Aromatic Bitters. For a mocktail version of this drink, try All The Bitter Alcohol-Free Aromatic Bitters in place of the aromatic bitters.
Cherry: This is a fruit that has been soaked in brandy and rich syrup. We used Luxardo Maraschino Cherries because they’re high quality and delicious.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. We used one from the KingSeal Bamboo Knot Cocktail Pick Set.
Tasting Notes
The Home Fires features the aromas of peat and allspice and has a fairly dry taste that matches the bourbon’s backbone with a noticeable earthiness of Islay Scotch and sherry, a hint of sweet nuttiness, and lemon to balance. The aftertaste then leaves a lingering lemon note in the mouth along with more savory sherry and spicy bitter notes.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: Despite its odd makeup, this recipe works incredibly well. It does an especially good job of showing off the Islay Scotch without letting it overpower the other ingredients, while also cleverly working in some nuttiness and spiciness. For a drink with this many strong ingredients, a stamp of approval this good from both of us should already have you setting out to make one.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“While very eclectic on paper, this drink hits a lot of great notes. The bourbon backbone pairs well with all of the flavors, while the amaretto lends a hint of nuttiness and sweetness, the sherry provides some savory notes, and the whisky (despite only calling for a teaspoon) adds a lot of peaty, earthy flavor. A fairly dry drink, this one is definitely built for more experienced drinkers who don’t need a lot of sweetness paired with their spirits.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Of the whiskies, bourbon is my favorite, so I assumed I would like this drink quite a bit when I saw it in the book. The only ingredient that had me raising an eyebrow was the Islay Scotch. Not much of the stuff is used, but even so, I usually find its peaty taste too distracting in cocktails. I was wrong in this case! I would say sipping on this recipe is an excellent way of dipping your toe into the smoky spirit. You get a hint of the Scotch’s taste, but it lets the rest of the ingredients shine too. This gets a ‘Yes, I would make it again’ from me.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn & Winter by Jassy Davis.
Add whiskey, amaretto liqueur, lemon juice, sherry, Scotch, bitters, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 30-45 seconds.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with cherry.
Ingredients
Directions
Add whiskey, amaretto liqueur, lemon juice, sherry, Scotch, bitters, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 30-45 seconds.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with cherry.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Spiritless Kentucky 74 Non-Alcoholic Bourbon Whiskey in place of the whiskey, Monin Premium Amaretto Syrup in place of the amaretto liqueur, non-alcoholic sherry flavoring in place of the sherry, Escape Mocktails Green Label Single Malt Whiskey Non-Alcoholic Alternative in place of the whisky, and All The Bitter Alcohol-Free Aromatic Bitters in place of the aromatic bitters to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Autumn Cocktails
If you like this autumn-inspired cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that are similar that you may enjoy:
Flannel Shirt: A Scotch cocktail made with apple cider, Amaro Averna, lemon juice, simple syrup, St. Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram, Angostura Aromatic Bitters, and an orange peel
American Trilogy: A rye and apple brandy cocktail made with brown sugar syrup, orange bitters, and an orange peel
Filibuster: A rye cocktail made with lemon juice, maple syrup, egg white, and Angostura aromatic bitters
Spiced Pumpkin Punch: A gin cocktail made with apple cider, pumpkin purée, honey syrup, lemon juice, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon sticks
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