Fall and Winter are upon us, and, just as many of our local restaurants have begun focusing on flavors associated with these seasons – foods like apples, mushrooms, and butternut squashes have already popped up on menus all over town—so here too at Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge have we begun featuring cocktails that possess what we would call autumnal and wintry qualities: the Navy Grog, our featured cocktail last month, immediately springs to mind, a robust allspice-flavored drink served in a ghoulish skull mug. As the weather turns cold, the trees become bare, the heat comes on, and the fireplaces are lit, there are just certain spirits we gravitate toward in order to keep us warm and toasty during these dark and chilly months: aged rum, brandy, rye, and, of course, bourbon. Thus, we think it fitting that our November Cocktail of the Month is the spirituous bourbon-based Lonesome Highway.
Many patrons at Bryant’s know about or are familiar with several classic cocktails, like the Old Fashioned, the Tom Collins, the Sidecar, or the Sazerac, but oftentimes ask for something that’s like a cherished classic but with a bit of a twist. Luckily, we have plenty of those, so when someone requests something similar to the Manhattan, surely one of the all-time great cocktails, our bartenders and servers will usually lead you to two of Bryant’s standards: Frank’s Drink and the Lonesome Highway. Both are variations on the Manhattan, and, while Frank’s Drink is a delicious sweet and herbal rye cocktail, the Lonesome Highway is a bit bolder than your typical bourbon Manhattan, thanks to a few special ingredients that give it its distinctive dry bitterness. If the changes in the weather have got you looking for a Manhattan with a bit more sadness and mystery, this may be the drink for you.
“Sadness and mystery?” you ask. Well, we all know where Manhattan is, but where can this lonesome highway be found? Why is this stretch of road so lonely and deserted? Is the lonesome highway an actual place, or is it just a state of mind? The creator of this cocktail, Bryant’s owner John Dye, is pretty tight-lipped about its origins, only saying that its name may be reminiscent of a sad country song he once heard, which is fitting, since this cocktail will make you sing. With a base of overproof bourbon, the Lonesome Highway initially greets you with the sweetness of raisins and vanilla, but ultimately leads you down a road that turns toward a bitter and smoked cherry flavor. We’re not sure about the highway itself, but your taste buds will be anything but lonesome.
Stop in between 5pm and 8pm Sunday through Thursday and take a trip down the Lonesome Highway for just $6 all month long.
