In this episode we are treated to a cocktail masterclass with the one and only Cocktail Contessa aka Heather Wibbels. Join us as she guides us through using sensory to craft elevated cocktail experiences.

Key Moments:(00:00 ) Intro

(05:11 ) Bourbon and bitters class

(06:03 ) Find your old fashioned

(06:22 ) Your palate changes

(08:24 )Choosing a cocktail

(09:06 )The Whiskies

(09:40 ) The Amari

(14:12 ) Choosing the spirit, amaro combination

(16:00 ) First cocktail

(17:25 ) Choosing to add or not add bitters

(19:52 ) How to choose fruit for garnishing vs juicing

(21:31 ) Try black manhattans at different temperatures

(23:16 ) Building a cocktail

(29:47 ) How bitters change a cocktail

(37:57 ) Second cocktails

(44:20 ) Comparing second cocktail notes

(47:00 ) Third cocktail

(49:17 ) Dankness and balance in cocktails

(56:52 ) Who is Heather Wibbels?

(01:00:22 ) Comparing three Black Manhattans

(01:02:02 ) What’s that flavor?

(01:03:44 ) Taste testing amari

(01:05:23 ) The Origin of Cocktail Contessa

(01:07:47 ) Who is a whiskey drinker?

(01:10:00 ) Blind Tasting

(01:14:15 ) Your palate is actually okay

(01:17:51 ) Ordering what you want at a bar/restaurant

(01:20:13 ) Favorites of cocktails we made

(01:22:15 ) Sipping cold vs room temperature

(01:29:37 ) Flavor differences between palates are okay

(01:30:56 ) Different is how you define why something is better

(01:32:48 ) All experiences are informativ

(01:38:14 ) The reality of glassware in bars/restaurants 1:38:14

(01:41:08 ) Expectations of a whisky drinker

(01:44:02 ) The role of memory in cocktail experience

(01:49:46 ) What makes a whiskey drinker a whiskey enthusiast

(01:52:14 ) Whiskey [more than] neat

(01:53:19 ) The hazmat people

(01:54:11 ) Creme brûlée cinnamon or churro cinnamon

(01:57:11 ) Elevated cocktails

(02:00:32 ) One person, dead or alive, you’d want to sip with

(02:02:20 ) Drinking with Thanos

(02:05:18 ) New book

(02:11:24 ) Are low sugar, low carb cocktails possible?

(02:12:56 ) Having a healthy relationship with alcohol

(02:15:40 ) Flights + Comparison + Sensory

Base Black Manhattan recipe from the episode:

• 2 oz bourbon or rye
• 1 oz amaro
• 1 dash (8-10 drops) of bitters
• lemon peel garnish

Rye whiskey from the episode:

• Castle and Key Restoration Rye
• Russell's Reserve 6 yr Rye
• New Riff Single Barrel Rye

Amari from the episode:

• Amaro Braulio
• Amaro CioCiaro
• Amaro Montenegro
• Foro Amaro

For more on amari checkout Heather’s recent post - https://www.cocktailcontessa.com/whiskey-and-amaro-cocktail-playground/

Follow Heather on Instagram @cocktail_contessa

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