Cocktail Ideas from the Tasting Room

Some more cocktail ideas from our tasting room! Two whiskey lovers and long-time FLD employees talk about their experience at FLD and their favorite ways to drink our spirits.

Tom is an encyclopedia of all things whiskey-related. Originally from Wisconsin, he's been working at FLD since October of last year. "My favorite part about working here," he says, "is that I get to educate and inform customers about the intricacies of whiskey." At home, he brews his own beer, and he and his wife will be returning to Wisconsin in May to work with his wife's family at their winery. His favorite FLD spirit? McKenzie Rye. "I like to drink it neat," he says, "or in a Sazerac."

Cody, meanwhile, comes to FLD from Texas. "I love learning about the process of distilling, and the fact that there are so many different varieties of whiskey." His favorite FLD spirit is our un-aged corn whiskey, Glen Thunder. "it's simple, and yet you can mix it with a variety of things- or just drink it straight!" When it comes to cocktails, Cody's got some interesting ideas- like this one, which mixes our Riesling Grappa, Stirrings Brand Sangria Mixer, and Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters.

Tom's McKenzie Rye Sazerac Recipe

Coat a lowball glass with absinthe
muddle a sugar cube and five dashes of Peychaud's bitters (Tom uses Fee Brothers Whiskey Barrel Aged Bitters as a substitute)
Fill glass with a few ice cubes
Add 1.5 ounces of McKenzie Rye Whiskey, stir
Garnish with an orange peel

Cody's Grappagria

Muddle strawberries in the bottom of a highball glass
Fill glass with ice
Add 1 ounce of FLD's Riesling Grappa and 3 ounces Stirrings Brand Sangria Mixer
Finish with a few drops of Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters
Garnish with a strawberry or orange peel