Top City

September 25, 2010 (Day 238) — Top City

I spent about an hour on the phone last night with Larissa from seveneightfive magazine talking about the Website, my work in the cocktail industry, and how a goofy looking guy from the middle of nowhere Kansas has developed a following in the cocktail world. The short answer is = I have no damn clue. But, every day I’m thankful for all of your support and love you’ve shown over the past (almost) year!

So, after having a great conversation yesterday evening, I sat down and decided that Topeka (where seveneightfive is based) needed it’s own cocktail.

Named after Kansas’ capitol city, Topeka (or as it was briefly known earlier this year, “Google, KS”), the Top City uses three different ingredients to embody the rough-around-the-edges charm of Topeka. (My wife actually went to school at Washburn for a couple years).

1.5 oz Bison Grass Vodka

1.5 oz rye whiskey

.25 Grand Monarch orange liqueur

Pour your three ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled ice, shake well, then strain into a chilled martini glass.

The Bison Grass vodka with it’s spicy flavor and earthy flavor reflects the buffalo grass that carpets the plains surrounding Kansas’ capitol city.

Rye, because few things are more western than whiskey.

Grand Monarch, to temper the spiciness of the other two liquors, and adds just a little bit of class. Imagine it like the little black dress you slip on before a night on the town.

Together you have a very clean, but powerful cocktail. You have the spiciness, which is pleasant, but that Grand Monarch comes in and clams everything down. Very little after taste on the end too, which is always a sign of a solid cocktail.