Up to Date

About the Up to Date

Up to Date brings together Timber Creek Florida Black Rye Whiskey, Lustau Manzanilla sherry, Grand Marnier, and Angostura bitters in a stirred cocktail finished with a lemon twist in a chilled coupe. It is a spirit forward drink with a distinctly savory, slightly briny edge thanks to the sherry. Manzanilla sherry brings a dry, saline character that is unusual in a whiskey cocktail and gives the drink much of its personality, while Grand Marnier adds orange and brandy sweetness to balance that dryness out, and Angostura bitters tie the two together with warm baking spice. Timber Creek’s black rye, distilled and blended on the Crestview farm through the distillery’s PureBlend process, has a peppery, full bodied grain character that keeps the drink from being dominated by the sherry’s more unusual notes.

To build Up to Date, combine the whiskey, sherry, Grand Marnier, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice and stir until well chilled, then strain into a chilled coupe. Express a lemon twist over the top for a bright citrus finish before serving. Its savory, autumnal profile is a strong match for roast turkey, cranberry sauce, and baked ham, and it works equally well alongside cheddar cheese or pecan pie for a holiday style spread. Because Manzanilla sherry oxidizes quickly once opened, use a bottle that has been opened recently for the freshest, most saline character; an older, tired sherry will read flat and dull rather than bringing the briny lift this cocktail depends on.

Because the sherry’s brininess is central to the drink’s identity, resist the urge to substitute a sweeter fortified wine; the contrast between that dry, saline note and the whiskey’s grain sweetness is exactly what makes Up to Date distinctive. As with any strong, spirit forward cocktail, enjoy Up to Date in moderation and know your limit.

Up to Date brings together Timber Creek Florida Black Rye Whiskey, Lustau Manzanilla sherry, Grand Marnier, and Angostura bitters in a stirred cocktail finished with a lemon twist in a chilled coupe. It is a spirit forward drink with a distinctly savory, slightly briny edge thanks to the sherry. Manzanilla sherry brings a dry, saline character that is unusual in a whiskey cocktail and gives the drink much of its personality, while Grand Marnier adds orange and brandy sweetness to balance that dryness out, and Angostura bitters tie the two together with warm baking spice. Timber Creek’s black rye, distilled and blended on the Crestview farm through the distillery’s PureBlend process, has a peppery, full bodied grain character that keeps the drink from being dominated by the sherry’s more unusual notes.

To build Up to Date, combine the whiskey, sherry, Grand Marnier, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice and stir until well chilled, then strain into a chilled coupe. Express a lemon twist over the top for a bright citrus finish before serving. Its savory, autumnal profile is a strong match for roast turkey, cranberry sauce, and baked ham, and it works equally well alongside cheddar cheese or pecan pie for a holiday style spread. Because Manzanilla sherry oxidizes quickly once opened, use a bottle that has been opened recently for the freshest, most saline character; an older, tired sherry will read flat and dull rather than bringing the briny lift this cocktail depends on.

Because the sherry’s brininess is central to the drink’s identity, resist the urge to substitute a sweeter fortified wine; the contrast between that dry, saline note and the whiskey’s grain sweetness is exactly what makes Up to Date distinctive. As with any strong, spirit forward cocktail, enjoy Up to Date in moderation and know your limit.