Blinker

About the Blinker

Bold and tart, the Blinker is a Prohibition era rye cocktail built on Timber Creek Florida Black Rye Whiskey, fresh grapefruit juice, raspberry preserves, and a touch of simple syrup to round the edges [VERIFY: exact Prohibition era origin and original preserve or grenadine specification]. Grapefruit juice can be an unforgiving mixer for whiskey, since its bitterness and acidity will expose any thinness in the base spirit almost immediately. Timber Creek Florida Black Rye Whiskey holds up to that test because the distillery’s PureBlend process, distilling grains separately and aging them in individual barrels before blending by component, gives the rye a spicier, more concentrated character than a standard rye whiskey. That spice cuts straight through the grapefruit’s bitterness, while the raspberry preserves add a jammy sweetness that keeps the whole drink from tasting overly sharp.

To build it, shake the rye whiskey, grapefruit juice, raspberry preserves, and simple syrup hard with ice, making sure the preserves fully incorporate into the mix, then strain into a chilled coupe glass. No garnish is required, though a fresh raspberry can be dropped in for a visual nod to the preserves. The Blinker’s tart, spiced profile pairs well with the suggested pork chops, grilled peaches, and aged cheddar, all of which echo the drink’s fruit and spice notes. Pecan pie makes a fitting dessert pairing if you’d like to carry the drink through the whole meal, and roast turkey works surprisingly well too, especially around the holidays.

Tart, fruit forward cocktails like this one can mask how much alcohol is actually in the glass, so it’s worth sipping at a steady pace, keeping water on hand, and making sure you have a safe way to get home before the night is over. Its balance of tart and sweet makes it easy to keep reaching for, so keep an eye on your total count as the evening goes on.

Bold and tart, the Blinker is a Prohibition era rye cocktail built on Timber Creek Florida Black Rye Whiskey, fresh grapefruit juice, raspberry preserves, and a touch of simple syrup to round the edges [VERIFY: exact Prohibition era origin and original preserve or grenadine specification]. Grapefruit juice can be an unforgiving mixer for whiskey, since its bitterness and acidity will expose any thinness in the base spirit almost immediately. Timber Creek Florida Black Rye Whiskey holds up to that test because the distillery’s PureBlend process, distilling grains separately and aging them in individual barrels before blending by component, gives the rye a spicier, more concentrated character than a standard rye whiskey. That spice cuts straight through the grapefruit’s bitterness, while the raspberry preserves add a jammy sweetness that keeps the whole drink from tasting overly sharp.

To build it, shake the rye whiskey, grapefruit juice, raspberry preserves, and simple syrup hard with ice, making sure the preserves fully incorporate into the mix, then strain into a chilled coupe glass. No garnish is required, though a fresh raspberry can be dropped in for a visual nod to the preserves. The Blinker’s tart, spiced profile pairs well with the suggested pork chops, grilled peaches, and aged cheddar, all of which echo the drink’s fruit and spice notes. Pecan pie makes a fitting dessert pairing if you’d like to carry the drink through the whole meal, and roast turkey works surprisingly well too, especially around the holidays.

Tart, fruit forward cocktails like this one can mask how much alcohol is actually in the glass, so it’s worth sipping at a steady pace, keeping water on hand, and making sure you have a safe way to get home before the night is over. Its balance of tart and sweet makes it easy to keep reaching for, so keep an eye on your total count as the evening goes on.