After heading to Austin, Texas, for the Garrison Brothers 2021 Bourbon Brawl, mixologist Josh Davey of Rancho Santa Margarita’s The Blind Pig Kitchen & Bar stirred up a win with his Texas Rose cocktail. Here, the spirit slinger tells us about his $10,000 tipple. garrisonbros.com; theblindpigoc.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF GARRISON BROTHERS
PHOTO COURTESY OF GARRISON BROTHERS.
Congratulations on becoming the first Bourbon Brawl winner from California! What excites you most about your victory? It validated that hard work ultimately pays off. At times, I wanted to give up because creating the Texas Rose took over a month of research and development. I have been in the hospitality industry for about five years now and have done everything from bussing tables to being a barback. All my preparation, training and perseverance got me to where I am today, and I look forward to what the future has in store for me!
Tell us about your winning cocktail. The Texas Rose is a riff on the classic whiskey sour except it doesn’t contain an egg white. The cocktail consists of Garrison Brothers small-batch bourbon, Amaro Montenegro, lemon juice, blackberry lemon cordial and Miracle Mile bergamot bitters, and is garnished with a sage leaf. When drinking it, you never lose sight of the bourbon, which is my favorite aspect.
When you’re not behind the bar at The Blind Pig, where would we find you sipping? Some of my favorite Orange County restaurants are The Blind Rabbit at the Anaheim Packing District and The Cellar Restaurant in Fullerton. They were the first bars I went to after COVID-19, and I was so amazed at the talent of their bartenders. I can’t wait to get out more to try new drinks!
What will be trending in the cocktail world in 2021? And what’s on its way out? Craft bars. In the past three to five years, craft cocktail bars and spirits have skyrocketed in popularity. Palates have evolved and people are gravitating toward cocktails with fresh ingredients. Due to this trend, we will see a decline of people ordering drinks from the soda gun.
Dream dinner party: Who is there and what do you serve? My entire family, my best friends and their families, and my girlfriend. We would enjoy filet mignon and, of course, Garrison Brothers bourbon cocktails made by Ryan Autry.
The luxury I feel is worth every penny is... a 40-ounce tomahawk steak!
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