Our content material sequence, The Spirit of Journey with Dewar’s Scotch Whisky, follows the essence of journey and discovery into the craft of bartending.
Created with the best components and a wealthy heritage that spans centuries, Dewar’s embodies the spirit of exploration and conjures up wanderlust and curiosity. Bartenders are an adventurous bunch, and touring can profoundly affect their cocktails by shaping creativity, method, and worldview, whereas enriching their craft and private journey.
Casey Carr, Bar Supervisor at Heartwood in San Francisco, belongs to a crew of extremely acclaimed trade veterans who’re behind many well-respected bars and eating places. We ask Casey about his bartending profession and the way his riff on the traditional Penicillin cocktail excites a spirit of journey.
Inform us about your journey into bartending and what impressed you to pursue this profession.
Initially, bartending was simply an admired subsequent step to attain, as I used to be a rising server inside eating places. My first job was as a espresso barista, and as a barista, the work move that started if you knew the recipes and your gear was actually charming to me. You would have a number of totally different orders without delay and end up multitasking in virtually a trance-like state, crafting every drink with ease till the push died out.
Plus, I used to be capable of see the enjoyment (most occasions…) that every drink introduced to each visitor. Naturally, as a younger server, it’s widespread to witness an analogous expertise between a bartender and bar visitor, so I aimed to study extra.
What actually shifted the informal job to a profession for me was once I labored at my first high-quality eating restaurant. I got here from the company background and didn’t understand how culturally rooted meals and drinks could possibly be. I started studying the bar on this house, and was launched to the world of cocktails for the primary time. I additionally participated in trainings and a number of other packages like Bar Smarts. In a while, the restaurant skilled some administration modifications and I used to be given the possibility to position new drinks on the menu. I had a objective of 1, then one turned just a few. In a while, I used to be given the chance to assist open a Chef-Owned Italian restaurant and develop a cocktail program; the remainder is historical past.
Finally, I actually do love cocktails and the best way people select to specific themselves by their drinks. To me, cocktail creation may be as lovely and inventive as music, dance, portray, or some other kind of artwork.
Speak to us a few current accomplishment.
I might say opening Heartwood SF has been my most up-to-date accomplishment. Heartwood Cocktail Bar has been open for just a bit over a 12 months, and it’s been fairly the journey. We’re located within the Monetary District, the ultimate neighborhood to expertise full revitalization because the onset of the pandemic. Fortunately, we’ve got discovered ourselves rising into a gentle, thriving bar inside a small period of time.
Naturally, any bar supervisor desires their cocktail creations to be beloved and the rationale for friends to go to their bar. However, for me, the most important honor to this point is our sturdy, wonderful crew and the common following we’ve got gained.
From a bartender’s perspective, how do you suppose Dewar’s 12-12 months-Previous enhances various kinds of events or buyer preferences?
I completely suppose the Dewars 12-12 months-Previous enhances a big demographic throughout many events. Scotch is named the celebratory choice to take pleasure in. You see it pulled off the shelf for weddings, household celebrations, the brand new promotion somebody received; it’s the spirit many select to rejoice with.
Whisky drinkers discover themselves in search of their go-to choices, and Dewars has had a protracted historical past of being folks’s “every day drink.” I’ve poured Dewars typically at each bar I’ve labored for. I imagine Dewars 12-12 months-Previous can fulfill the traditional whisky drinker, but additionally has the construction and flavors that entertain bourbon & rye drinkers as effectively.
What recommendation would you give somebody new to whisky on easy methods to finest take pleasure in Dewar’s 12-12 months-Previous?
If you happen to’re an skilled whisky drinker, pour your self a glass neat with a soda again. Style the spirit for what it’s, then sip in your soda and watch how way more taste you expertise.
If you happen to’re new to it, strive it in an Previous Long-established. Dewars 12-12 months-Previous has an effective way of sustaining its character whereas giving solution to new flavors as you sip.
Do you see the function of scotch evolving within the bartending neighborhood?
I’m seeing bartenders discover scotch as a really complimentary ingredient in a wide range of totally different cocktails. I discover myself utilizing scotches like Dewars 12-12 months-Previous inside tropical bitter variations. I’ve even seen scotch used as a break up base to boost a tiki drink. Finally, as folks’s understanding of scotch grows, creatives will discover methods to convey out its vibrant fruitiness in addition to its distinctive expressions of cooking spices and nuts.
Are there any developments in bartending that you simply suppose pair notably effectively with Dewar’s 12-12 months-Previous?
As odd as it could appear, I actually love Dewars 12-12 months-Previous in Espresso Martinis & Palomas. Espresso Martinis appear to nonetheless be having their second, and I really like how individuals are studying that other than their favourite vodka, spirits like scotch could make a extra flavorful drink.
Describe your cocktail that you simply’ve created utilizing Dewar’s 12-12 months-Previous and the inspiration behind it.
The Double Down—Dewars 12-12 months-Previous, Kumquat-Calamansi Cordial, Lemon, Ginger, Honey, and Amaretto. This cocktail I’ve created with Dewars 12-12 months-Previous is a mildly tropical riff on a Penicillin. I actually needed to convey out flavors that come from the double barrel getting older course of and the construction that comes with its mixing. To me, Dewars 12-12 months-Previous has nice physique and a spread of flavors, from toasted almonds, vanilla, and honey, to a matured juicy apple or pear.
So, as a riff on the traditional Penicillin – scotch, lemon, ginger, honey – I needed to convey out fruitiness by Kumquats & Calamansi. Calamansi jogs my memory of Kumquats, however as a unique tropical expression, so mixing the 2 was a no brainer.
Subsequent, I used traditional bar components like Benedictine & Amaretto to be the supply of “Almond & Honey.” Lastly, I added some ginger and lemon to the cocktail to spherical out the drink, and garnished it with a lemon peel and lemon thyme. We wish to serve this drink on the bar on a king dice in our Footed Goblet Glass.
Picture by Jason Hsu
Double Down
Components
- 1 ½ oz Dewars 12-year-old
- 3/4 oz Kumquat-Calamansi Cordial
- 1/4 oz Lemon Juice
- 1/4 oz Ginger Liqueur
- 1/4 oz Benedictine
- BSP Amaretto
Preparation
- 3 sprays of torched absinthe.
- Lemon twist and thyme for garnish.
