The Country Life was first published in Crosby Gaige’s Standard Cocktail Guide in 1944. Though often categorized as a Manhattan, the unusual combination of bourbon, Jamaican rum, port and bitters speaks both to the period of its birth as well as early American affection for Caribbean rum and Iberian wines. At Wm. Farmer & Sons in Hudson, New York, the recipe developed by Richie Boccato, who consulted for the bar, hews closely to the original, and bartender SJ Lafferty says it’s the perfect wintry Manhattan riff. “For me, it’s very appropriate to its namesake,” she says. “It reminds me of a cottage in a colder climate, something that’s really like a hearth and home.”
Country Life
Wm. Farmer & Sons | Hudson, New York
Ingredients
Serving: 1
- 1 1/2 ounces bourbon, preferably Old Grand-Dad
- 3/4 ounce Jamaican rum, preferably Appleton Estate Signature Blend
- 3/4 ounce tawny port, preferably Porto Kopke Fine Tawny
Garnish: orange twist
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass.
- Add ice and stir until chilled.
- Strain into a Nick & Nora glass.
- Garnish with an expressed orange twist.