The suburban cocktail is a change-up to the traditional old-fashioned. A unique cocktail combining rye whiskey, rum and port.

The recipe first appeared in print in the Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book. And the drink likely originated at the Waldorf’s bar, during the 19th century. The suburban cocktail named after the Suburban Handicap. A thoroughbred race that was first run at the Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Brooklyn. Today the race is at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The original race was named after a British horse race called the City and Suburban Handicap. (source)

It is hard to deny the influence of horseracing on our culture (whiskey in particular). While it plays second or third fiddle today it has influenced some of our great cocktails. Some of these include the Mint Julep, Belmont Jewel and Man O’ War.

Suburban Cocktail

The suburban cocktail recipes call for bourbon, but the majority recommend rye. Some serve it up like a martini and others on the rocks. We tested three different rye’s the Milam & Green Port Finished Rye, Ranger Creek .44 Rye and Oak & Eden’s Rye & Spire.

It is fun to taste the difference in cocktails from a simple swap in whiskey. The Milam & Greene is the sweetest of the bunch bringing out the port finish in the rye. The Oak & Eden and Ranger Creek are both lighter with a citrus crip in the nose.

The Oak & Eden balances with the port and rum. It doesn’t take a lot of the Angostura Bitters to overpower the drink. While the Ranger Creek takes the lead letting the port and rum round out the flavors.

One we should try is the Balcones Texas Rye 100. The chocolate and espresso notes could be interesting.

For me, I prefer the whiskey forward cocktail, but our recipes are guides. Use them to create your own coctions.

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Rye Whiskey

• .5 oz Port

• .5 oz Dark Rum

• 1 Dashes Angostura Bitters

• 1 Dashes Orange Bitters

How to make the suburban cocktail

Combine ingredients into a shaker with ice. Stir well to chill. Strain into a glass with ice.

Check out more Texas Whiskey cocktails that you can make at home.