Search and Rescue

Search and Rescue by Blake Pope

You can only coax someone into the vortex from in the vortex – Esther Hicks

Here’s a toast to this phenomenal phenomenon, from North Carolina’s Blake Pope, beverage director and general manager at Kindred in Davidson, whose “ruby port-enhanced Whiskey Sour transcends the seasons”. At Kindred restaurant, the focus is on seasonality, which in turn influences the drink menus, but this creative cocktail can be enjoyed any time of year.

search no further

In Pope’s delicious drink, a traditional whiskey sour (whiskey, lemon, simple syrup, and depending on which camp you’re in, an egg white) gets upgraded with the addition of two special ingredients. First, the deeply vegetal, bittersweet Italian amaro Cynar, and second, a hearty dose of jammy ruby port which softens the amaro and brightens the whole mixture. Pope explains, “A personal favorite has always been a classic New York Sour. I love bright and acidic cocktails but I especially enjoy the addition of wine for the added nuance and velvety structure. Plus, it just looks gorgeous. The intent with the Search and Rescue was to pay tribute to that but push it a little further in a few directions. The Cynar adds a bitter element and to balance that we chose to use a Ruby Port which carries a touch more sugar content than a typical red wine.” It’s a terrific combination you ought to search out – it just might rescue you from a dull moment. Cheers!

I’d rescue this pair

Search and Rescue by Blake Pope

1 ¼ oz rye whiskey

¾ oz ruby port

¾ oz fresh lemon

½ oz Cynar

½ oz simple syrup

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a favorite glass. No garnish, unless you are entering the vortex …