Name of Drink: The Sapona Sportsman
Bartender: J. Rosser Lomax
Name of Bar: Huckleberry Bar in Brooklyn, New York
Favorite way to enjoy bourbon: The Seelbach
 

All September we have been enjoying National Bourbon Heritage Month, but that is not the only Southern spirit we're celebrating. Jack Daniel's birthday is customarily recognized in September, and while the actual date is unknown, a month-long celebration seems quite appropriate to us.

In honor of Mr. Jack's birthday, we asked J. Rosser Lomax of Huckleberry Bar in Brooklyn to come up with a seasonal cocktail using one of JD's finest Tennessee whiskeys: Jack Daniel's Single Barrel (though, truth be told, it's pretty good neat and on the rocks). A variation of the classic Gold Rush— this cocktail is a great way to enjoy the end of summer and toast the man behind the Old No. 7 Brand.

“For this cocktail, I picked ingredients that reminded me of late summer, right before the air turns chilly—honey, lemon, and apples,” says Lomax. “The black cardamom is to give the drink a hint of smoke and wood, like an October breeze."

For Lomax, simplicity is key when creating elegant and timeless cocktails at home and in his post behind the bar at Huckleberry. “I love complex, subtle tinctures and infusions,” he says of his job in craft mixology, “but what I call ‘kitchen cocktails’ are usually my go-to. These are things you can make with whatever is in the fridge—so you can get to the important part, which is enjoying a cocktail in good company … even if it's just the stereo.” 

The Sapona Sportsman

1 oz. lemon juice
2 oz. Jack Daniel's Single Barrel whiskey
3/4 oz. honey syrup (recipe below)
1 black cardamom pod
1 slice Macoun apple

Combine lemon juice, whiskey, honey syrup and ice in a shaker and shake. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, and garnish with grated cardamom and a slice of apple.

Honey syrup:
In a sauce pan, combine 1:1 honey to water. Gently heat and stir till combined. Let cool and use.