Thunderclap

The Thunderclap is a wallop of a cocktail, as the name suggests. It's four ounces of booze and it comes across as a whiskey cocktail since that is the main ingredient. To make it I used MurLarkey spirits.

MurLarkey in Bristow, Virginia, gave me both their whiskey and gin to play with. Their Heritage whiskey is a bourbon-style mash with some barley in it. It tastes like a mix of Irish and bourbon whiskey. They also make Imagination gin, a New Western style gin with less juniper but fun flavors like kafir lime leaves, lemongrass, ginger, rosemary, celery gentian root and szechuan peppercorns.

With all that spice, a round Christian Brothers brandy calms the thunderclap down.

• 2 oz. whiskey (MurLarkey Heritage used)
• 1 oz. gin (ImaGination used)
• 1 oz. brandy (Christian Brothers used)

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.