Bourbon Lift

Bourbon Lift by Erik Adkins

I’m toasting this uplifting puzzle box with an uplifting cocktail, which is best held tight in the hand, lest it float away on you. It was created by San Francisco bartender Erik Adkins who helms the bar at Hard Water, his most recent of many stints in the bay city. The Bourbon Lift is a playful, nostalgic drink that’s hard to put down, and not because it might float away on a fluffy cloud. It’s delicious. Adkins says, of his creative ethos, “We just want to make the best cocktail we can with simple, but longstanding ingredients.”

doing some heavy lifting

The Bourbon Lift reminds me of a coffee egg cream, that New York staple of the soda fountain era which was made with sweet syrup and soda water (but not eggs or cream!). The bourbon keeps things boozy but the coffee liqueur, which in this case is the “Nola” by St George Spirits (which deliciously features Yirgacheffe coffee, chicory root, and vanilla beans) sets it apart. It gives the ubiquitous espresso martini a run for the money and is even tastier. Let this spirited lift lift your spirits, too. Cheers!

an uplifting pair

Bourbon Lift by Erik Adkins

1 ½ oz bourbon

½ oz coffee liqueur

½ oz orgeat

½ oz heavy cream

Soda water

Shake ingredients (except soda water) with ice and strain into a tall glass. Top with soda water and allow to settle and froth, then carefully pour more soda to lift the foam above the rim of the glass. Hold on tight.

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