One of my favorite things about living in the South is the gentile custom of cocktail hour. On certain Fridays in the fall, when the weather cools down just so, it’s great to sit out on your porch with a friend or two and jaw about the week behind you. Recently, at the store opening shindig that Billy Reid threw in Atlanta, I got acquainted with the gents that run American Spirit Whiskey, who were tending to the thirst of all Billy’s guests. It loos like a vodka, but drinks like a fine scotch… borderline moonshine, I call it — without the burn.

This stuff is smooth, delicious, and totally in a league of it’s own. To compare it to anything else does it a disservice, come to think of it. Here, the hired guns at Atlanta’s renowned H&F Bottle Shop mix it up with a little grenadine and grapefruit for a end-of-the-week refresher I’m proud to serve guests in my own home. 

Lady Rosalynn, Timothy Faulkner, H&F Bottle Shop

1.5 oz American Spirit Whiskey

1.25 oz Dolin Blanc

.25 oz Grenadine

Dash Peychaud’s Bitters

Dash Lavender Spice Bitters

Stir over ice, strain into chilled Cocktail glass, garnish with Grapefruit twist.