Seasonal Sipper: Minnesota Manhattan
Seasonal Sipper: Minnesota Manhattan
We love a warm-you-up classic cocktail, like a Manhattan, this time of year. While a traditional Manhattan is made with rye whiskey, a smoother, softer and sweeter cocktail can be had by swapping in a high-end Minnesota bourbon, as in our Minnesota Manhattan recipe.
One of our favorite local producers of both rye and bourbon is J. Carver Distillery located in Waconia, Minnesota. Named for famed pioneer frontiersman, explorer and risk-taker Jonathan Carver, J. Carver is committed to developing unique spirits of superior quality in collaboration with local farmers and barrel coopers. Together they coax forth magic from the cold-climate fruits and grains of the Minnesota River Valley.
Whether you choose a bourbon or rye whiskey for this Seasonal Sipper, J. Carver's spirits are top-shelf choices:
J. Carver Bourbon Whiskey
Made with grains from local farmers and aged in charred oak barrels coopered in Minnesota, J. Carver Bourbon is designed to stand out from the offerings of "me-too" distillers. The sweetness of Minnesota corn is bolstered by the spicy, smooth finish of rye in this exceptional non-chill-filtered 80-proof bourbon made from 71% corn in the mash.
J. Carver Rye Whiskey
This bold Minnesota whiskey offers the spicy, robust character of rye with a smooth finish softened by the sweetness of corn. Handcrafted and slowly distilled with grains grown near the distillery and aged in charred barrels coopered in Minnesota, this non-chill-filtered 92-proof rye whiskey is made from 60% rye and 30% corn in the mash.
Good Question: Is bourbon the same as whiskey?
All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Bourbon is an American whiskey made from at least 51% corn and stored in new charred oak barrels. The more corn used, the richer and sweeter the bourbon will be. Whiskey may be made from wheat, rye, barley or corn and stored in oak barrels that do not need to be new or charred. There are also rules on how strong bourbon must be to legally bear the name bourbon.
Local bourbon from J. Carver is available in the Wine & Spirits shops at our Grand Avenue, Woodbury, Stillwater, Excelsior, Uptown and Shoreview Markets. Selection and availability of products vary by market.
