Enjoy fall evenings with this easy Left Hand Cocktail recipe! A mix of bourbon, sweet vermouth, Campari and chocolate bitters will invigorate your senses.
Prep time:
1 minute
Mixing time:
1 minute
Servings:
1
Calories:
213
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Bourbon
- ¾ oz sweet Vermouth
- ¾ oz Campari
- 3 dashes of Chocolate Bitters
- Ice cubes
- Maraschino cherry - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Coupe Glass
- Mixing Glass
- Measuring Jigger
- Stirrer or Bar Spoon
- Cocktail Strainer
Instructions
- Prep Glass: Fill your coupe glass with ice. Set it aside.
- Add Bitters: Pour 3 dashes of Chocolate Bitters into the mixing glass.
- Add Vermouth: Measure and pour ¾ oz sweet Vermouth into the mixing glass.
- Add Campari: Add ¾ oz Campari to the mix.
- Add Bourbon: Finally, add 1½ oz Bourbon into the mixing glass as well.
- Add Ice and Stir: Fill the mixing glass with ice. Using a bar spoon or a long stirrer, stir well (for about 15-20 seconds). Give it a taste and stir a bit more if you feel like more dilution is necessary.
- Strain: Take your coupe glass and discard the ice. Using the cocktail strainer, strain the mixture into the chilled glass.
- Garnish: Garnish with maraschino cherry and serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Bourbon: If you don't have bourbon on hand, rye whiskey can be a good substitute, although it will give the cocktail a spicier edge.
- Sweet Vermouth: Dry vermouth can be used instead of sweet vermouth for a different flavor profile.
- Campari: If you're not a fan of Campari's bitter taste, Aperol is a lighter alternative that still brings an orange essence to the drink.
- Chocolate Bitters: Regular aromatic bitters can be used if chocolate bitters aren't available, but they will provide a different depth of flavor.
Making a Pitcher of Left Hand Cocktail:
- To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 12 oz of bourbon, 6 oz of sweet vermouth, 6 oz of Campari, and 16 dashes of chocolate bitters.
- Combine the bourbon, sweet vermouth, Campari, and chocolate bitters in a large pitcher with ice. Stir well.
- Pour the mixture into individual chilled coupe or martini glasses, garnish with a cherry, and serve immediately.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Bourbon Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic bourbon substitute; several brands that mimic bourbon flavor quite well are available.
- Campari Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic aperitif or make a simple syrup infused with orange peel, gentian root and rhubarb.
- Vermouth: opt for a non-alcoholic wine.
- Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
Making it Vegan:
This cocktail is already vegan-friendly as it doesn't contain any animal products. However, be sure to check your ingredients' labels to ensure they're vegan. Some brands of vermouth and bitters may use animal products in their production process.What is a Left Hand Cocktail?
A Left Hand Cocktail is a bourbon-based classic cocktail made of 1.5 oz bourbon, .75 oz sweet vermouth, .75 oz Campari, and three dashes of chocolate bitters. This drink is relatively easy to make as it only requires the ingredients to be stirred with ice and then strained into a chilled glass before being garnished with a cherry for serving. The Left Hand Cocktail is an exciting variant of the well-known Negroni cocktail; instead of gin used in traditional Negronis, this recipe calls for bourbon and adds chocolate bitters for extra depth and complexity.
What is a Left Hand Cocktail made of – The ingredients
Gather these items if you’re planning to make a Left-Hand Cocktail:
- Bourbon: This is the base spirit of the Left-Hand cocktail. It provides a rich, full-bodied flavor with notes of vanilla and caramel.
- Sweet Vermouth: Adds sweetness and complexity to balance the strong bourbon flavor.
- Campari: An Italian bitter liqueur that gives the cocktail its distinctive bitter edge and vibrant red color.
- Chocolate Bitters: Enhances the flavor profile by adding a subtle hint of chocolate, complementing the bourbon’s natural sweetness.
- Cherry for garnish: Serves as an aesthetic element, adding a pop of color and a hint of fruity sweetness when bitten.
