We all have a story. When I was young, I had several stories. I was a cheerleader, editor on the school paper and a dancer. They were my creative outlets. They were my “stories”.

My daughter was a mini me. She followed right in my footsteps and my stories became hers. She was a cheerleader, a writer and a dancer. Soon though, she realized that although we were alike in many ways, we had a few differences.

For instance, she wasn’t much of a “girlie” girl. While our entire family has always been heavily into watching sports, she loved to PLAY sports, and that was where she finally started a new chapter. She traded in her tap shoes for a catcher’s mitt and for four years she was the best catcher around on the Girl’s Fast Pitch Softball League. She was the only girl I know who turned girls softball into a contact sport! She ended her career with a perfect record of ZERO steals on home base. I was one very proud mama. My daughter had finally begun to write her own story.

As I’ve gotten older, my chapters have taken a new direction. One of those new directions is an immense love and appreciation for good bourbon and whiskey. The story of spirits through the years is one of the best you can read. The heritage is long and some have even dated the beginning of distilleries back to the Babylonians in Mesopotamia and the Medieval monks of both Ireland and Scotland.

I have many favorites when it comes to whiskey, but one of the best is Templeton Rye.

We celebrated Easter weekend with a “staycation” in downtown Atlanta, and chose Southern Art & Bourbon Bar for Easter brunch. As the bartenders there are the unequivocal masters of all things bourbon and whiskey, I asked Manny and Rob for a little help with a perfect baseball cocktail recipe using Templeton Rye. As they exemplify the art of Southern Hospitality, they were more than willing to oblige. First came the ingredients…

 

This was the first time I’ve had whiskey bitters and they really take a cocktail up a few notches.

Next, came the process. Creating quality cocktails is a true art and requires a very special skill set; choosing perfect bitters, selecting the best ingredients that pair with your spirit, and finally adding the star of the show, Templeton Rye. Manny is an expert mixologist. He was completely in his element creating this drink. It was like watching the mad scientist!

  

When the cocktail glass was finally placed on the bar, his creation was brilliant. The Templeton Rye was expertly highlighted with a bevy of flavors that paired beautifully with the rye. The flavors he chose were fabulously fresh and it is the perfect cocktail for a summer picnic, relaxing by the pool, or a baseball game!

The best part is it’s just as easy to make at home!

While Manny created an amazing drink, I think I did pretty well naming it. Don’t the best ideas ALWAYS come from a cocktail napkin?

Here’s our Grand Slam recipe for…

Catcher In The Rye

• 1/2 oz. Tuaca (a vanilla liquor)
• 3/4 oz. Dry Curacao
• 1 1/2 oz. Templeton Rye
• 1/2 oz. Lemon
• 1/2 oz. Simple Syrup
• 3 shakes of Whiskey Bitters

Blend all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and serve. Enjoy!

I can’t thank Manny enough for his expertise in creating this fabulous cocktail and Templeton Rye for an amazing Rye Whiskey! Stop by and see Manny at Southern Art & Bourbon Bar, and tell him I said hello! He may even be willing to make a “Catcher in the Rye” and talk a little baseball 😉

 

Southern Art & Bourbon Bar Location:

3315 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30326

Located on the lobby level of InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta
Complimentary 3-hour valet parking

(404) 946-9070

Hours:

Breakfast:
6:30 – 10:30am (Mon – Fri)
6:30 – 10:30am (Sat – Sun)

Lunch:
11:30am – 2:30pm (Mon – Sat)

Brunch:
11:00am – 3:00pm (Sun)

Dinner:
5:30 – 10:00pm (Sun – Thu)
5:30 – 11:00pm (Fri – Sat)

Bourbon Bar:
11:30 – 2:00am (Mon – Sat)
12:30pm – 12:00am (Sun)

*Thank you to Manny at Southern Art & Bourbon Bar for creating a great cocktail, and Templeton Rye for providing our in-home beverage. All thoughts, opinions, words, over indulging and drooling are strictly my own. For more information on Southern Art & Bourbon Bar, visit http://southernart.com/. For more information on Templeton Rye Whiskey visit http://www.templetonrye.com/age-gate/, and remember to drink responsibly.