Winston Churchill’s alcohol intake is the stuff of legends. The man could put back some booze. He would wash down is breakfast and cigar with a weak mixture of Johnny Walker Red Label and soda. The Churchill breakfast cocktail is an homage to the celebration of whiskey in the morning.

Our Churchill breakfast cocktail 

This drink combines whiskey, cold-brew coffee, maple syrup, bitters, and a smoking cinnamon stick. From the research, I found the UK version uses scotch, but the American version uses rye whiskey. I am using Balcones Texas Rye 100 and a coffee liqueur instead of cold-brew. The whiskey has a 100% rye mashbill comprised of elbon and some specialty crystal, chocolate, and roasted rye grains. It has the typical rye spice on the front, finishing with dark chocolate and espresso. These are the flavors we want to pair with the maple syrup, cinnamon, and coffee liqueur.

A unique piece to the Churchill breakfast cocktail is the smoking cinnamon stick. You will need a gas stovetop, blow torch, or lighter. Light one end of the stick until it is smoking the prop your glass over it so the smoke coats the inside.

The combination of all the flavors creates a luxurious and sophisticated cocktail. Full of chocolate and cinnamon with a touch of smoke in the nose. The palate dives deep into the characteristics of the whiskey and coffee liqueur and spice with a bit of sweetness. Finishing with lingering sweet smoke.

Ingredients

• 2.25 oz Rye Whiskey

• 1 oz cold brew coffee or coffee liqueur

• .5 oz maple syrup

• Dash Angostura bitters

• 1 cinnamon stick

How to make our Churchill breakfast cocktail
First light cinnamon stick and place chilled glass over the charred end so the smoke will coat the glass. Next, add the rye, coffee, maple syrup, and bitters to a mixing glass with ice. Stir well to chill. After that, shave a few pieces of the cinnamon stick into the glass. Strain and garnish with the charred cinnamon stick.

Be sure to check out all our Texas Whiskey cocktails you can make at home.