Move over, espresso martini — this whiskey-based coffee cocktail is so much better

Coffee and cocktails are a beautiful combination, as evidenced by the worldwide popularity of the beloved espresso martini and other classic coffee drinks like Irish coffee. But there’s a less well-known coffee drink that you might not know about, and it’s called the revolver cocktail. Rather than the vodka or Irish whiskey used in other coffee drinks, this one puts American-style bourbon whiskey at the heart of the drink, showing off its varied flavors.

The simple, elegant, caffeinated cocktail is made with whiskey (bourbon or rye whiskey), coffee liqueur, orange bitters, and for a little flair, a flamed orange peel. Not only is it flavorful with a nice mixture of whiskey sweetness (or spice if you decide to go the rye whiskey route), citrus, and bold, robust coffee, but it’s also surprisingly easy to make.

How to make the Revolver cocktail

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces of bourbon (or rye whiskey)
• 1/2 ounce of coffee liqueur
• 2-3 dashes of orange bitters
• Flamed orange peel

Method:

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
2. Add bourbon (or rye whiskey), coffee liqueur, and orange bitters to the ice-filled mixing glass.
3. Stir to combine the ingredients.
4. Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
5. Flame an orange on top of the drink.
6. Express the orange oils around the rim of the drink.
7. Garnish with the orange peel.
8. Enjoy this complex, yet easy-to-make cocktail.

The invention of the revolver

This contemporary cocktail just celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, so if you’ve never tried it, now is the time. This coffee-based twist on the traditional Manhattan was first conceived by bartender Jon Santer at San Francisco’s Bruno in 2003, before taking the drink with him to the well-known cocktail bar Bourbon & Branch.

What does a revolver taste like?

The beauty of the revolver cocktail is the combination of bourbon and coffee, which are a great match. The coffee liqueur is sweet, bringing out the sweet notes of the bourbon, but there’s also a hint of bitterness there to balance out all of the sugar. Bourbon has a natural spiciness to it, which is almost reminiscent of cinnamon or nutmeg, and that spice makes for a great match with the coffee flavors, too. The spice is even more pronounced if you use a rye whiskey, which has strong spicy notes.

With this complexity, though, the revolver isn’t a fussy or hard-to-drink cocktail. The sweetness from the coffee liqueur makes it something that slips down easily, and it rounds off the harsher edges from the high alcohol content of the bourbon. Along with the citrus notes from the orange bitters and the flamed orange peel, you end up with a drink that is chocolatey, smooth, and just a little bit peppery. It’s almost like a grown-up version of chocolate orange.

If you normally drink sweeter cocktails and you’re looking to branch out into drinks that are more spirit-forward options, or if you love an espresso martini, but you’re looking for a different style of coffee cocktail to try, then the revolver is a great choice.

Pick the right whiskey for you

While you can make this drink with any bourbon or rye whiskey you prefer, the original recipe called for Bulleit Bourbon with its high-rye mash bill. By the late aughts, the drink had begun to gain notoriety and acclaim and was beginning to be seen on cocktail menus all over the world.

The key when making a drink like the Revolver is making sure the drink’s base fits your unique palate. While the original recipe called for a high-rye bourbon, that doesn’t mean you have to use one. If you prefer a soft, wheated bourbon, use that as the base. A bold, cask-strength bourbon? Go ahead. You won’t find any judgment here. And if you prefer a spicy, earthy, herbal, peppery rye, you do you. Experimentation is great when it comes to cocktailing. The most important rule for enjoying a cocktail is to have fun.