oranjack and coke

 

Jack and Coke is a classic combination. It’s an easy go-to cocktail when you’re at a bar and don’t want to have to think too much or peruse a six-page cocktail menu. It’s simple. And it’s very tasty. But it’s a little… boring.

I was staring at a half-full bottle of Mexican Coke (leftover from my mexican mexican coke experiment) and wondered what I could do with it. I opened the liquor cabinet, and the Jack Daniel’s jumped out at me. Okay, nice. But what else? How could I brighten this standard beverage and make it more interesting? I started looking around the kitchen, and that’s when I saw it. Sitting in a beautiful red wooden bowl, just waiting and hoping to be noticed. The humble orange.

Orange zest takes this classic cocktail from boring to bright. From tasty to frickin’ terrific. Seriously, my first sip elicited a “Holy crap, that’s excellent!” (Actually, I don’t publish any recipe that doesn’t produce that reaction.) And it’s easy. Just grab a fine grater and take some of the outermost skin off the orange – that’s the zest, and it contains flavor-intensive oils. Yes, it’s more work than pouring Jack and Coke into a glass, but it’s well worth it. It’s amazing how incredibly well these flavors go together. Impress your friends with this stepped-up version of a timeless favorite.

oranjack and coke

1 shot Jack Daniel’s (or your favorite whiskey)
1/4 tsp fresh orange zest
5 ounces cola

Put whiskey and orange zest into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a glass with ice, and add cola. Stir very gently. Easy as that.