Name: The Conference
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 15 ml Bourbon whiskey; 15 ml Rye whiskey 50% abv; 15 ml Calvados apple brandy; 15 ml Cognac (brandy); 5 ml Brown sugar syrup; 2 dash Aromatic bitters; 1 dash Xocolatl mole bitters

The Conference
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Photographed in an UB Koto Old Fashioned 30cl

Ingredients:
¹⁄₂ oz	Bourbon whiskey
¹⁄₂ oz	Straight rye whiskey (100 proof /50% alc./vol.)
¹⁄₂ oz	Calvados / apple brandy / straight applejack
¹⁄₂ oz	Rémy Martin V.S.O.P. cognac
¹⁄₆ oz	Demerara/Muscovado/brown sugar syrup (2 sugar to 1 water)
2 dash	Angostura Aromatic Bitters
1 dash	Xocolatl mole bitters

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

Select and pre-chill an Old-fashioned glass.
Prepare lemon and orange zest for garnish.
STIR all ingredients with ice.
STRAIN into ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice).
Express lemon and orange zest twists over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Review:

As with any good conference, all the participants in this cocktail are heard and their contribution is equally valued. Due to its layering of different spirits to build complexity, some consider this a Tiki-style cocktail.

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History:

Adapted from a recipe created by Brian Miller at Death & Company in New York City, USA.

More cocktails by Brian Miller

Nutrition:

One serving of The Conference contains 158 calories

Alcohol content:

1.5 standard drinks
31.91% alc./vol. (31.91° proof)
21 grams of pure alcohol

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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G. M. Genovese

2nd January at 19:06

Less is more. Tastes too similar to an A La Louisiane. Calvados replacing the Laird's BiB I used might help. Nothing particularly unique overall. Used Wild Turkey 101, Rittenhouse Rye, Laird's BiB, and a Cognac I would label 'generic'. Quality demerara syrup and Ango for the aromatic and cocoa. What am I missing here? Equal parts of four spirits just for the sake of it?

John CARR

21st July 2024 at 15:41

Fascinating cocktail. Deliciously dry and perfectly balanced. I only had a little muscovado syrup left, so topped it up with a mill or two of Luxardo. Perfect balance of the ingredients and charmingly dry. The mole bitters work beautifully with the whiskers to create a malty kind of flavour. Would definitely have again.

John Champion

12th April 2024 at 17:09

This is a fantastic Old Fashioned riff. I would say the Conference and Oaxacan Old Fashioned from Death and Co, as well as Jamie Boudreau's Cubed Old Fashioned, are probably my top 3 Old Fashioned recipes out there.

John Hinojos

11th March 2021 at 06:01

Great for evening sipping or a nightcap.

Andrew Gelb

8th March 2021 at 17:02

A winner. Very pleased with this drink, which I prepared for the first time yesterday. Attractive hue, enticing scent, and a sophisticated, complex melange of flavors with, exactly as described, all in balance and none singing out of tune. I did not have the mole bitters and substituted with El Guapo Chicory Pecan.

Marie-Therese Straus

27th February 2021 at 03:15

Lovely, sophisticated cocktail that's very quick and easy to make. I'll adding it to my regular rotation.

paul mcgowan

26th February 2021 at 22:11

Loved it- was a bit doubtful due to mixing rye & bourbon- will try a version with just one, but Calvo & Cognac the bitters & syrup make it sing! Cheers!