The perfect partner for a Rye Manhattan or a Whisky Sour

​Ingredients:
4 oz. of dried organic cherries
2 oz. of Virginia Rye Whiskey
4 oz. of water

1/4 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of water
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 pinch of kosher or sea salt

How to make:
Rehydrate the dried cherries by combining them in an air tight glass jar with the whiskey and 4 oz. of water. Let the jar sit in the refrigerator for approximately 3-4 days, occasionally rotating the jar to mix the contents.

When the cherries are hydrated, remove from refrigerator. Then prepare the sugar mixture.

Combine the sugar, additional water, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a small sauce pan. Heat to a simmer, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Now pour the cherries and liquid from the jar into the sauce pan containing the sugar mixture. Bring back to a simmer, gently stirring to make sure all the cherries are coated. Remove from heat and let cool.

Place all contents back in the sealed jar, refrigerate and enjoy.
​
Option: You may also use fresh cherries. Substitute 8 oz. of pitted (you may want to but a cherry pitter for this part) fresh cherries for the dried cherries and water. Then when you add the fresh cherries and rye to the sugar mixture, let them cook for 5 mins to soften.

​Everything a bar should be. These folks are serious about their efforts and the value is outstanding. "Full pours, honest prices" is not just an advertising slogan, they live by it. Plus they have definitely paid attention to details, from the hand carved ice cubes, to charging stations and purse hooks under the bar. We stopped in yesterday (Sunday) for their daily 5-7 pm happy hour. We had a Rye Manhattan and an Old Fashioned. All prepared with care, great ingredients and good quality spirits for an unbelievable price. The food was delicious and the service outstanding. I would not hesitate to recommend what is sure to be a long-standing Richmond, Virginia classic spot for years to come. Congrats to The Jasper, your reputation is well deserved. And thank you for your support of Virginia Rye Whiskey. They carry the full line of Catoctin Rye Brands. The Jasper

Down to my last sip.

Bare Knuckle American Rye Whiskey from KO Distilling — the winner of the Rye category in The Manual Spirit Awards 2019 — is made with 100% rye sourced from Virginia farms. 

See the whole story here: The Best American Rye Whiskey 
​
The Manual Spirit Awards recognize the best craft liquors distilled in the U.S. We blind-tasted bottles from around the country in eight categories — Bourbon, Single Malt Whiskey, Rye Whiskey, Gin, Vodka, Unaged Rum, Aged Rum, and Liqueur — to determine our champions. Each of the winners was judged on aroma, palate, and finish. 

Visit KO Distilling to taste for yourself!

American Whiskey feature article on Richmond, Virginia distillery, Reservoir. 
https://americanwhiskeymag.com/2019/09/04/richmonds-bespoke-bevvys/

Video by Dan Currier covering the story of George Washington's Rye Whiskey distillery at Mt. Vernon, Virginia. 

Old Dominion recipe: 2 ounces of Virginia Rye Whiskey, 1 teaspoon of honey, 3 dashes of bitters, and an orange wedge. Mix the rye, honey, bitters and an ice cube, shake or stir, then strain. Serve on the rocks with a squeeze of orange.

We stopped by the Whiskey Jar restaurant on the downtown mall in Charlottesville, Virginia this past Saturday afternoon for an appetizer and drinks. The Whiskey Jar is wonderful farm-to-table restaurant sourcing from local and regional farms and purveyors. They also specialize in a wide variety of craft distillery offerings, including great support for Virginia Rye Whiskey (8 selections). We sampled a flight of Catoctin Creek Roundstone and Filibuster Dual Cask neat, then topped it off with a very tasty Manhattan. The place is a gem, staff friendly and knowledgeable, food fresh and delicious.  http://thewhiskeyjarcville.com/

By Robert Moss on Serious Eats - ​Over at the Bar at Husk, bartender Darryl Csicsila is a fan of the rye from Copper Fox Distillery...
https://www.seriouseats.com/2014/06/best-rye-whiskey-willett-high-west-smooth-ambler-old-potrero.html

These are great events with usually several Virginia Rye Whiskey distillers in attendance. Come out and meet the folks and sample some wonderful spirits. Click here for more information.