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Skeleton Key

1 1⁄4 oz Bourbon, Bulleit
3⁄4 oz Elderflower liqueur, St. Germain
1⁄2 oz Lemon juice
2 oz Ginger beer, Fever Tree
8 ds Bitters, Angostura
Instructions

Build the first four ingredients in an iced Collins glass. Top with the Angostura so it floats on top and slowly cascades toward the bottom.

Notes

This drink works with pretty much any ginger beer but the ginger spiciness of the Fever Tree really makes the drink come alive.

History

I created this drink while working at Michael Symon's Roast in Detroit, MI. I served it for a couple of days before I came up with the name. The rusty color of the drink made me think of the skeleton keys that opened the old locks in my grandparents house.

Cocktail summary
Created by
Brian Vollmer, Roast, Detroit, MI
Year
2010
Is the
author's original creation
Curator
Not yet rated
User rating
4 stars
(20 ratings)
Yields Drink

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From other users
  • The bitters as a float were beautiful and made the drink.
  • Basil Hayden's KSBW, Schweppes Signature ginger beer. Tried it again with 1½ bourbon and 1 elderflower. Noice. — ★★★★
  • Great use of bitter sang ginger beer — ★★★★
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Comments
K23 commented on 4/11/2014:

Tasty

majorsmoof commented on 2/23/2018:

I had my doubts about the 8 dashes of bitters, but the drink works!