Ancestral Spirits

Blueberry preserves add the sweet taste of summer to this bold bourbon cocktail.

1½ oz. bourbon
½ oz. Grand Marnier
½ oz. fresh lemon juice
½ oz. ginger syrup (see below)
1 tsp. blueberry preserves
Tools: shaker, strainer, fine strainer
Glass: rocks
Garnish: mint sprig

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Double-strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass, then garnish.

Ginger syrup: Peel and rough-chop a 4-inch piece of fresh ginger. Put ginger and 1 quart simple syrup in a food processor or blender and process on high. Let steep for 2 hours. Strain.

Phoebe Esmon, president of the Philadelphia chapter of the United States Bartenders’ Guild