Father's Day Drinking: Don Lockwood Cocktail Recipe

"Dignity, always dignity" was the motto of Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) in the 1952 classic Singing In The Rain and while most dads might not be the swashbuckling sort, they certainly deserve a day of recognition before getting back to the grindstone. This drink, crafted by Abraham Hawkins of Dutch Kills, certainly befits the occasion.

Combining bourbon and Islay Scotch, the Don Lockwood layers together the best of both worlds, with moderate sweetness from the maple syrup and aromatics of both Angostura and chocolate bitters. It takes both an approach of necessary roughness, as one would expect from any Old Fashioned-style cocktail, and adds a degree of elegance with smoke, wood, chocolate and citrus. Cocktails like this are "built" in the glass, and intentionally left fairly undiluted, so as to progress slowly via a large ice cube or sphere over the course of 15 to 20 minutes and let the flavors unfold with it.

The other benefit of all-spirit cocktails like this is that they can be batched in large quantity in advance and either poured for a group or stored in bottle or barrel for later use without diminishing in flavor. Over time, the aromatics and flavors can actually evolve to become even more complex as they blend together. It's a gorgeous drink and dignified choice for unwinding anytime. Enjoy.