Hunter's Moon

ABOUT

Happy Halloween! Tonight we’re going to see October’s second full moon: the Hunter’s Moon. This occurrence happens once every two to three years and is also known as a Blood Moon.

The Hunter’s Moon is said to have symbolized to the Indigenous Peoples of America that the game had fattened and that it was time to hunt. Guided by the light of the Hunter’s Moon, they hunted and stockpiled food for the winter to come.

While most people associate hunting with deer, it was actually the American bison or buffalo that was the most significant animal in many Indigenous American cultures. The largest mammal in North America, Indigenous tribes used every part of the bison for everything from food and utensils to clothing and religious ceremonies.

That’s why the base spirit for this drink is Buffalo Trace bourbon. Known as the oldest continuously operating distillery in the United States, Buffalo Trace gets its name from the ancient buffalo crossing on the banks of the Kentucky River in Franklin County, Kentucky. With pleasant caramel, honey and orange notes on the nose, along with sweet brown sugar, vanilla and toffee notes on the palate, Buffalo Trace is the quintessential bourbon. It’s perfect for whiskey beginners, bourbon snobs, and everyone in between.

With this being a blood moon inspired cocktail, I just had to incorporate freshly squeezed blood orange juice. I decided to use the juice to make a blood orange syrup with dark brown sugar. The brown sugar not only adds a lovely layer of richness to the syrup, but it also helps to intensify the juice’s deep red-orange color.

Hibiscus tea adds a satisfying tartness to balance out the sweetness from both the bourbon and the blood orange syrup and lends its beautiful deep red color to the cocktail. Lastly, lemon juice is added to brighten the cocktail up and pairs perfectly with our other ingredients.

This drink is served in a coupe glass. A dehydrated blood orange slice is an optional garnish.

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Recipe Type: Cocktails

Glassware: Coupe

Servings: 1

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5 oz. Buffalo Trace bourbon

• 1 oz. hibiscus tea, chilled

• 1 oz. blood orange syrup

  • 1 cup blood orange juice

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice

INSTRUCTIONS

Preparing the blood orange syrup:

1. Prepare blood orange syrup by adding one cup of freshly squeezed blood orange juice and one half a cup of brown sugar to a small saucepan

2. Bring to a low boil until brown sugar has dissolved

3. Let simmer for 10 minutes

4. Remove from heat and let cool completely

5. Once cooled strain into a clean glass container for later use

Preparing the hibiscus tea:

1. Brew hibiscus tea by adding two hibiscus tea bags to one cup of hot water

2. Let steep for 10 minutes and then discard tea bags

3. Add to a clean glass container and chill for later use

Preparing the cocktail

1. Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker

2. Shake for 20 seconds or until shaker is frosty on the outside

3. Strain into a chilled coupe glass

4. Serve