Good Cork

Name: Good Cork
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients: 60 ml / 2 oz Irish Whiskey; 15 ml / 0.5 oz Bénédictine D.O.M.; 7.5 ml / 0.25 oz Yellow Chartreuse; 1 bar spoon (approx. 5 ml / 0.16 oz) Absinthe; 1 dash Angostura Bitters; 1 dash Peychaud's Bitters

Ingredients Instructions

The Good Cork is a masterfully balanced stirred cocktail that showcases the versatility of Irish whiskey. It blends the whiskey's characteristic spice with the honeyed, herbal sweetness of Bénédictine and the complex botanical profile of Yellow Chartreuse. A whisper of absinthe and dashes of bitters add layers of aromatic complexity, resulting in a robust yet elegant sipping drink for the discerning palate.

Preparation

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Preparation time

Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Good Cork is categorized as a modern classic, spirit-forward cocktail. Due to its rich, herbal, and robust character, it also serves wonderfully as a digestif to be enjoyed after a meal.

Serving

This is a strong, aromatic drink served cold and 'up' (without ice) in a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass to best present its complex flavors.

Serving size

Approximately 90 ml / 3 oz (before dilution)

Alcohol content

Approximately 30-35% ABV

Alcohol strength

Serving temperature

Cold

Glass type

Coupe

Glass treatment

Chilled

Backstory

This cocktail was created by Jillian Vose during her tenure as head bartender at the world-renowned Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog in New York City. The drink is a testament to the bar's mission of elevating Irish whiskey within the craft cocktail renaissance. Its name is a clever nod to the Irish heritage of both the spirit and the bar's theme, suggesting a quality drink worth uncorking.

Origin

Created in the 2010s by Jillian Vose at The Dead Rabbit bar in New York City, USA.

Good Cork

The drink is consistently known as the Good Cork, named by its creator at The Dead Rabbit bar in New York City. It does not have any common alternative names or translations.

Original name

Good Cork

Characteristics overview

This cocktail presents a complex, herbal, and spicy flavor profile with a silky texture and a beautiful golden amber hue. Its aroma is bright with lemon and botanicals, making it a warming and contemplative sipper.

Flavor

Herbal, Spicy, Nutty, Honeyed, Complex, Anise

Aroma

Lemon Zest, Botanical, Anise, Whiskey Spice, Honey

Taste balance

Sweet, Bitter, Spirit-forward

Aftertaste

Long, Warming, Herbal, Complex

Fizziness

Still

Color appearance

Clear, Golden Amber

Texture

Silky, Smooth, Rich

Seasonality

Year-round, Leans towards Autumn/Winter, Warming

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor is intense and spirit-forward, with a noticeable sweetness from the liqueurs balanced by herbal bitterness and whiskey spice. It is a completely still, non-creamy, and strong cocktail.

Sweetness

Saltiness

Sourness

Bitterness

Spiciness

Fruitiness

Creaminess

Carbonation

Ingredients

This drink requires a quality Irish whiskey, balanced by the herbal liqueurs Bénédictine and Yellow Chartreuse. Absinthe and a duo of classic bitters add aromatic depth and complexity.

Irish Whiskey60 ml / 2 oz
A single pot still whiskey like Powers John's Lane 12 Year or Redbreast 12 is recommended.
Bénédictine D.O.M.15 ml / 0.5 oz
A sweet, herbal liqueur with notes of honey and spice.
Yellow Chartreuse7.5 ml / 0.25 oz
The milder, sweeter counterpart to Green Chartreuse, with honey and saffron notes.
Absinthe1 bar spoon (approx. 5 ml / 0.16 oz)
Used for its potent anise and herbal aroma; a rinse can be used for a more subtle effect.
Angostura Bitters1 dash
Adds spicy complexity and a drying quality.
Peychaud's Bitters1 dash
Contributes bright floral and anise notes.

Ice type

Cubed (for stirring)

Mixing equipments

You will need a standard stirring set to prepare this cocktail: a mixing glass, bar spoon, jigger for accurate measurements, and a strainer.

Mixing glass for chilling and combining ingredients
Bar spoon for stirring
Jigger for measuring
Strainer (Julep or Hawthorne) for pouring

Instructions

This cocktail is built by stirring all liquid ingredients with ice in a mixing glass, then straining the chilled mixture into a pre-chilled coupe. A final garnish of expressed lemon peel completes the drink.

1. Chill a coupe or Nick & Nora glass by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer.

2. Combine the Irish whiskey, Bénédictine, Yellow Chartreuse, absinthe, Angostura bitters, and Peychaud's bitters in a mixing glass.

3. Fill the mixing glass two-thirds full with cubed ice.

4. Stir with a bar spoon for 20-25 seconds until the outside of the glass is well-chilled and frosted.

5. Discard the ice from your prepared serving glass.

6. Strain the contents of the mixing glass into the chilled serving glass.

7. Take a fresh lemon peel, hold it over the drink's surface with the skin facing down, and pinch it to express the citrus oils onto the drink.

8. Drop the lemon peel into the glass as a garnish.

Garnishing

The cocktail is garnished with a lemon peel; its oils are expressed over the surface to add a bright, citrus aroma that complements the herbal notes.

Lemon peel expressed over the drink and dropped in

Dietary Information

This cocktail is vegetarian but not vegan, as Bénédictine contains honey. Due to the whiskey base, it is not considered gluten-free for those with high sensitivity.

✓ Contains alcohol

✓ Caffeine-free

✓ Dairy-free

✓ Egg-free

✓ Soy-free

✓ Nut-free

✕ Gluten-free

✕ Vegan-friendly

✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This is a spirit-forward drink with a moderate calorie count, derived from both the alcohol and the sugar content of the herbal liqueurs.

Calories

Approximately 220-250 kcal / 920-1046 kJ

Calories level

Carbohydrates

Approximately 10-12 g

Carbohydrate level

Sugar

Approximately 10 g

Sugar level

Occasions

This cocktail is perfect for a quiet evening of sipping, as a flavorful after-dinner digestif, or as a sophisticated choice to serve at a cocktail party.

Evening Sipping
After Dinner
Cocktail Party
Sophisticated Gathering

Pairing suggestions

The Good Cork pairs excellently with strong, savory flavors like aged cheese, charcuterie, and rich pâté. Its herbal sweetness also makes it a fantastic match for high-quality dark chocolate, creating a delightful after-dinner experience.

Sharp aged cheddar cheese
Dark chocolate with sea salt
Cured meats like prosciutto or salami
Rich pâté

The Good Cork: A Modern Irish Whiskey Masterpiece

The Good Cork is a sophisticated modern classic that champions Irish whiskey in a complex, spirit-forward format. Its intricate blend of whiskey, herbal liqueurs, and aromatic bitters creates a truly rewarding sipping experience that evolves in the glass. Ideal for enthusiasts of cocktails like the Vieux Carré or Sazerac, it offers a unique, warming profile with a long, satisfying finish. Created by Jillian Vose at The Dead Rabbit, it represents the pinnacle of modern Irish mixology.

Similar Cocktails

Vieux Carré

Shares Bénédictine and bitters, but uses a split base of rye whiskey and cognac, and sweet vermouth instead of Yellow Chartreuse.

Tipperary

A classic Irish whiskey cocktail that also features a French herbal liqueur, but opts for Green Chartreuse and sweet vermouth for a different herbal and sweet balance.