Some days, you just want a cocktail with bourbon. It’s sunny outside, a light breeze carries cottonwood fuzz around the neighborhood against a clear blue sky–weather that begs for something light and citrusy, like a margarita. But, I want bourbon; I’m having bourbon. It’s been a whiskey kind of day.

The Southern Countess

Adapted from Paul Clarke’s “The Cocktail Chronicles”

1 oz. Bourbon*

1 oz. Aperol

1 oz. Dry vermouth

Chill a cocktail glass.

• Add everything to a mixing glass, fill with ice. Stir with a bar spoon (or chopstick!) for 30 seconds.
• Strain & serve on the rocks–preferably just one very large ice ball. Then, garnish with an orange rind.
• Enjoy while the week that was gives way to the weekend.

*The original recipe used gin–like I said, I wanted bourbon. So, I opted for a nice local bourbon from 2 Bar.