Name: Mount Rushmore
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 30 ml Bourbon whiskey; 30 ml Amaro (e.g. Montenegro); 30 ml Fino sherry; 5 ml Coffee liqueur

Mount Rushmore
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Glass:

Serve in an Old-fashioned glass

Ingredients:
1 fl oz	Bourbon whiskey
1 fl oz	Amaro Montenegro
1 fl oz	Lustau Jarana Fino Sherry
¹⁄₆ fl oz	Galliano Espresso Coffee liqueur

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

Prepare:

Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.
No garnish to prepare.

How to make:

STIR all ingredients with ice.
STRAIN into ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice).

Garnish:

Serve naked, without garnish.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Amaro (e.g. Montenegro), Fino sherry - Sulphur Dioxide/Sulphites

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Review:

A bourbon-laced aperitivo that is an interesting alternative to a Boulevardier.

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History:

Adapted from a recipe created by Patrick Pistolesi at Drink Kong in Rome, Italy.

More cocktails by Patrick Pistolesi

Nutrition:

One serving of Mount Rushmore contains 194 calories

Alcohol content:

1.5 standard drinks
21.88% alc./vol. (43.76° proof)
20.8 grams of pure alcohol

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More Bittersweet (e.g. Negroni) cocktails
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Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Showing 10 comments for Mount Rushmore.
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Caspian Berggren

20th April at 12:09

Only had Manzanilla sherry on hand and it worked splendidly. The salinity and acidity really brought out the candied orange from the Montenegro with just a hint of coffee.

Mike

14th March at 01:58

An adult cocktail indeed. I’m a bit happy I didn’t have any fino in and had to sub in amontillado because it was delicious. Also had Nonino stand in for Montenegro. That mere barspoon of coffee liqueur makes the drink.

Others compared it to a Boulevardier but only in terms of proportions. Without the Campari, it isn’t nearly as bitter.

Recommended.

Lustau Los Arcos, St George NOLA, Amaro Nonino, Frank August Small Batch.

Ruth Harvey

15th August 2025 at 16:28

Mr H. "this is a very grown up cocktail....I like it!"
We are getting somewhere 🤣!

Carolyn Rush

14th December 2025 at 11:12

My boyfriend always says "This is a grown up cocktail!" anytime I make one that has dry sherry in it 😃😂

Melissa Demian

3rd June 2025 at 18:47

This is an excellent alternative to a Boulevardier, a drink I love very much, so that is saying a lot. I used Ramazzotti in place of Montenegro, which I’m out of, and it works extremely well. Something about the sherry and amaro combination gives the drink an almost saline quality, and then that hint of coffee comes through. Really impressive!

Amarette Speights

30th March 2024 at 04:22

This was surprisingly delicious. I’m working my way through a bottle of Montenegro. And happened to have everything else in this cocktail. I would not have put this together on my own. I used Penelope bourbon, a current fave, and it was very yummy!

Michelle Bell

22nd March 2024 at 21:28

I really like to know how its title came about…..this mix is like a good puzzle keep my mind wondering! Made with Bourbon tonight, will try Rye next time.

Michelle Bell

25th April 2024 at 18:24

Second time making it with George Dickel Rye….taste a bit sharp/brighter. I like it better…

Amarette Speights

30th March 2024 at 04:24

I agree! It was a fun name and a really great drink!

michael Monaco

28th June 2023 at 13:26

Was only so-so for me.

Sandip Gohil

10th June 2023 at 01:38

Yeah I really like this. Back in March I wasted our parties evening trying to get us into Drink Kong, place was empty but reservation only. Shame as turning away 4 people willing to spend a decent amount in an hour or two is a lot of money but regardless, the place looked great.

A great drink, tastes exactly as something should from a top end bar.

John Hinojos

4th June 2022 at 00:35

Great as an aperitivo. Used 90 proof rye. What a wonderful blending of flavours. Nothing overpowers the other. Even with the small amount of coffee liqueur. Wow.

Amarette Speights

30th March 2024 at 04:25

It’s amazing how that tiny bit of coffee shines through. It kind of inspires me to add a bar spoon full of coffee liqueur to other cocktails.

Simon Dare

31st July 2021 at 23:28

I love this. I prefer bourbon based bevvies after dinner or late night sippers, and this fits like a glove.
I acquired a bottle of Amaro Meletti, on a discount deal, and it's caramel silkiness works perfectly in this too.
Top drawer. Thank you.

Jonathan Flowers

22nd June 2022 at 09:05

I also tried this with Meletti and I thought it was great- further experimentation led me to using an ounce of cask strength Colorado single malt whiskey, an ounce of Meletti, .75 ounces of blended amontillado, and a dash of Bittermen's Mole Bitters in place of the Kahlua. Spicy and delicious!

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