Saint Phillip Cocktail

“This is our riff on the Brandy Melba,” says Terry Raley of Holland House Bar and Refuge in Nashville. “It takes its name from the sack of St. Phillip Fort, which was a major victory in New Orleans for Union soldiers during the Civil War. We wanted to call it something that tied the Civil War era and New Orleans’ involvement in the war.”

2 oz. bourbon
3/4 oz. Southern Comfort
3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
1/2 oz. blackberry cordial (see below)
Dash of Fee Bros. orange bitters
Tools: shaker, strainer
Glass: cocktail, chilled

In a shaker, combine the whiskey, Southern Comfort, lime juice and blackberry cordial over cracked ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled glass. Top with a float of orange bitters.

Blackberry Cordial
15 large blackberries
2 cups cane sugar
2 tsp. gum arabic
3 cups double-filtered water
10 oz. brandy

Blend the blackberries. Place the blended berries in a saucepan with 3 cups of water, 1 teaspoon of gum arabic and the sugar over high heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring. Let cool for 20 minutes. Add brandy, stir to combine and strain through a chinois into a glass bottle. Refrigerate. Makes about 1.5 liters.

Terry Raley, Holland House Bar and Refuge, Nashville