One such modern drink that derived from a whiskey-based cocktail is the American Trilogy, a boozy and inventive take on the Old Fashioned.
The American Trilogy’s journey began in 2007 when Richard Boccato, now of Dutch Kills, and Michael McIlroy, now of Attaboy, both superstars in New York’s bustling cocktail scene, collaborated on the drink while working at Little Branch.
The bartender recommended the American Trilogy and told me the recipe he used, which was one part Rittenhouse rye, which sits at 100 proof, Laird’s Apple Brandy, also sitting at 100 proof, two dashes of old bitters, and a bar spoon of demerara rich simple syrup.
Here’s the American Trilogy recipe:
1 oz rye whiskey
1 oz applejack or Laird’s Apple Brandy
1/4 (or less) rich simple brown sugar syrup (can opt for 1 brown sugar cube muddle and moisten with bitters)
2 dashes orange bitters.
If making with a sugar cube, place in an Old Fashioned glass and saturate it with the two dashes of bitters and muddle into a fine paste.
