maple syrup

The Midnight Fog: Dark, Smoky, & Silky Bourbon Sour

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🌑 The Midnight Fog: JET-BLACK Smoked Bourbon Sour (Halloween Cocktail)

Welcome to Episode 42 of Thirsty Thursday Cocktails! I’m Rebecca, and tonight we conclude our three-part Halloween special with the most dramatic drink of the series: The Midnight Fog.

This isn’t your average bright whiskey sour—it’s a dark, velvety, and complex riff inspired by a stormy midnight scene. We’re using Activated Charcoal for its striking jet-black color and a cocktail smoker for an epic “fog” presentation!

If you love sophisticated, spirit-forward drinks with notes of caramel, dark spice, and savory leather, this is the bourbon cocktail for you!

🥃 Flavor Profile

  • Spirit: Bulleit High-Rye Bourbon
  • Color: Jet-Black (from Activated Charcoal)
  • Texture: Velvety & Silky (from Fee Foam)
  • Key Notes: Caramel, Molasses, Leather/Tobacco, Charred Oak, Bright Lemon Zest.

🛒 Ingredients & Bar Tools (Amazon)

We used some specific, unique ingredients for the dark color and complex flavor. Check out the links below!

(Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

“Please note: Activated charcoal is used purely for color and may interfere with certain medications. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns!”

📝 The Midnight Fog Recipe

  • 2 oz Bulleit Bourbon (High-Rye)
  • 1 oz Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup
  • 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 3 Dashes Molasses Bitters
  • 2 Dashes Turkish Tobacco Bitters
  • 5 Dashes Fee Foam (or Egg White)
  • 1/8 tsp Activated Charcoal (for color)
  • Optional: Black and White Edible Glitter

Technique: Smoke your chilled coupe glass with Hickory chips. Dry shake ingredients vigorously for 15 seconds. Add ice and wet shake for 15-20 seconds.Strain into smoked glass. 

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NOTE: The spirits and items in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the producers for this review. Please drink responsibly.

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Maple Habanero Sour: A Flavor Explosion You NEED to Try! 

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In episode 10 of Thirsty Thursday Bourbon Cocktails, we present the Maple Habanero Sour cocktail recipe. This spicy cocktail is a complex and exciting sensory experience. This easy Maple Habanero Sour Recipe is made with Russells Reserve 10, bourbon barrel aged maple syrup, fresh lemon juice, habanero bitters, and black walnut bitters.

🍁 SWEETNESS: The first sensation is often the rich, warm sweetness of maple syrup. This sweetness coats the palate, providing an inviting first impression. 

🍋 CITRUS ZEST: Quickly following the maple, the tartness of the lemon juice cuts through the sweetness. This provides a refreshing, zesty counterpoint. The habanero’s heat emerges gradually. It’s not always an immediate, overwhelming burn, but rather a slow, warming sensation that builds. 

🌶️ SUBTLE HEAT: Habanero peppers have a distinct fruity quality, so the heat is often accompanied by subtle floral or tropical notes. 

🎆 FLAVOR  FUSION: The interplay between the sweet, sour, and spicy elements creates a layered flavor profile. The maple syrup and citrus work to balance the habanero’s heat, while the habanero adds depth and complexity to the sweet-and-sour base. 

🥰 FINISH: The finish can linger, with the warmth of the habanero remaining on the tongue. The sweetness of the maple may also persist, leaving a pleasant aftertaste. 

🎉 The overall experience is a delightful dance of contrasting flavors. It’s a cocktail that stimulates multiple taste receptors, offering a balance of sweet, sour, and spicy that can be both refreshing and invigorating.

RECIPE

Maple🍁Habanero🌶️Sour🍋

  • 2 oz of bourbon
  • .5 oz of barrel aged maple syrup
  • .5 oz of lemon juice (freshly squeezed, if possible)
  • 3 dashes of habanero bitters (for the heat)
  • 3 dashes black walnut bitters (added depth)
  • 5 dashes of Fee Foam (or one egg white)
  • Dry shake 15-20 seconds
  • Add ice and shake 15-20 seconds
  • Pour into cocktail glass with an ice ball/block
  • Garnish with 1 dash of black pepper & 1 dried lemon slice

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NOTE: The spirits and items in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the producers for this review. Please drink responsibly.