A century ago, the Seelbach Hotel, in Louisville, was a glitzy destination where big spenders from all over the country would gather to clink glasses of Kentucky whiskey. That was the age that produced the Seelbach cocktail, a glamorous concoction of bourbon, orange liqueur, bitters, and champagne that guests like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Al Capone might have enjoyed. The drink disappeared somewhere in the chaos of Prohibition but was rediscovered by a hotel manager in 1995. Oakroom bartender Eron Plevan doesn’t veer too far from the original recipe.
Drinks
Classic Cocktail: The Seelbach
Louisville’s pre-Prohibition cocktail
photo: Andrew Hyslop
Ingredients
-
1 oz. Old Forester bourbon
1/2 oz. Cointreau liqueur
4 dashes Peychaud's bitters
3 dashes of Angostura bitters
Champagne or sparkling wine
Orange peel
Preparation
Stir together bourbon, Cointreau, and bitters in a chilled champagne glass. Top with cold champagne or sparkling wine, and garnish with a long twist of orange peel.
Recipe from Eron Plevan of Oakroom restaurant at the Seelbach Hotel in Lousiville, Kentucky.
Related Stories:
Anatomy of a Classic
Smoked Vanilla Ice Cream
With wood chips and ingenuity, a South Carolina chef puts a smoky spin on a classic summertime treat
Drinks
An English-Style Pimm’s Cup Made for Sipping
A take on the refreshing cocktail that’s ideal for hot summer nights (or days)
Food & Drink
The Only Tomato Pie Recipe You’ll Ever Need
A Birmingham, Alabama, chef makes a deep-dish take on the summertime classic
Trending Stories:
49
Slideshow
Food & Drink
Forgotten Southern Recipes
From pear salad and tomato pudding to vinegar pie and bacon crackers, we’re more than ready for these old-school classics to make a comeback
18
Slideshow
Arts & Culture
Party Like a Vanderbilt
A new exhibition at the Biltmore in Asheville shows Southern hospitality at its finest
13
Slideshow
Food & Drink