I’ve previously extolled the wonder that is Tennessee whiskey. Tennessee whiskey a special American whiskey made only in Tennessee and protected by the Tennessee state legislature with laws that govern the mash bill and the exact production process. Like Kentucky bourbon (which doesn’t have to be made in Kentucky, by the way!), Tennessee whiskey is made with at least 51% corn, which gives it a sweetness, and both are aged in charred new-oak barrels, imparting notes of vanilla and smoke. But because of Tennessee whiskey’s special filtering process, known as the Lincoln County Process, Tennessee whiskey is often smoother and mellower than American bourbon. The Lincoln County Process sends the unaged whiskey through a maple-charcoal filter, removing additional impurities and creating a smooth and mellow flavor that makes Tennessee whiskey both a pleasant sipper and a great liquid to blend with other ingredients in various whiskey cocktails — like the Tennessee Flip!
The Tennessee Flip is a wonderful cocktail because it is so easy to make and so delicious. It is simply equal parts of Tennessee whiskey and Irish cream. It is considered a flip cocktail because it contains a rich ingredient: Five Farms Irish Cream, the gold standard of Irish cream. Produced in County Cork, Ireland, Five Farms is the highest rated Irish cream in history, receiving a 97 in the prestigious Ultimate Spirits Challenge. It’s no surprise, considering the beautiful farm-to-table ingredients that go into this Irish cream. Five Farms uses single-batch fresh cream sourced from five family-owned farms in County Cork and combines it within 48 hours with premium distilled authentic Irish whiskey.
I’m combining this delectable Irish cream with Yellow Bird Tennessee Whiskey. With a mash bill of 80% corn (10% rye, 10% malted barley) and a minimum aging of 4 years, Yellow Bird has a robust sweetness and a smooth finish. I also love that Yellow Bird donates a percentage of each bottle sale to the National Audubon Society to protect our feathered friends!
Here’s the recipe!
Tennessee Flip
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz Tennessee whiskey
1 1/2 oz Irish cream
Method
Combine both ingredients and shake with ice, strain, and serve! (Note: You can either serve this cocktail “up,” in a coupe or dessert glass, or over a large ice cube in an old-fashioned glass for a sipper.) Cheers!