Once you down a delicious drink at The Goose, a stylish, avian-themed speakeasy in Scottsdale run by the same folks who own The Ostrich in Chandler and The Blue Heron in Gilbert, you’ll realize that themed bars and funny cocktail names are sometimes worth taking seriously. Case in point: the Down Comforter, an ultra-smooth, bourbon-based sipper you’ll want to curl up with on a chilly night.
Its flavors invoke all things post-prandial – coffee, chocolate, pistachios and other nuts, maybe a little toffee, vanilla and even licorice – which means this amber-colored elixir is a bit like a liquid dessert. That said, it’s not sweet and childish, but rather complex and sophisticated, owing in part, to Amaro Lucano Anniversario, which lends spicy, bittersweet notes and a touch of honey. In sum, it’s a drink that elicits a sense of warm, fuzzy well-being, if not downright goose bumps.
Decadent though it may be, this one is a cinch to make. Combine 2 oz. Smoke Wagon Bourbon, .75 oz. Amaro Lucano Anniversario, .25 oz. Monin pistachio syrup and 2 dashes of Australian Bitters Co. coffee bitters in a stirring glass. Pack the glass with ice, stir for 30 seconds and strain into a rocks glass with a large cube of ice. Finally, float a hunk of your favorite nut-studded dark chocolate bar on top to take flight.
$16, The Goose
8300 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale
480-948-3099, thegooseaz.com
