Wild Turkey 101 Rye seemed to work really well for this... 45 second stir and it seemed to be perfect for me. Definitely whiskey-forward, but not overly "boozy". I used Lustau San Emilio Pedro Ximénez Sherry for the sherry.
I really like this - tried it head to head again the Reanimator and preferred this a bit more (although both are excellent, the PX nutty notes are great here). Be sure to give this a good stir to chill it well and dilute it a bit.
I see a lot of comments about how boozy or “punchy” this cocktail is. So’s you all know, I never meant for it to be made with a bonded whiskey. I have nothing against Rittenhouse, it’s one of my favorite whiskeys of all time, but for this cocktail I always used either Redemption or Old Forester. They both offer different nuances; one adds to the fruit, and the other the nutty flavors. Try them both. See which you prefer!
Very intense. Some might find this cocktail a bit too sweet, but I enjoy the warm richness of the combination of flavors. An excellent drink for cold winter nights.