For fair-weather grillmeisters — and I include myself in this category — the days of outdoor cooking are coming to a close. Sure, there are a few weeks left before the hardier among us reach for parkas, along with the longhandled spatulas, but for many of us, once the canvas cover lands on the grill, it stays there until spring.
In honor of a memorable season of grilling — could the weather have been any better? — I offer a toast to the outdoors, in the form of a cocktail made with grilled oranges, wheat beer and bourbon.
It's a great way to close the summer. Or an even better way to greet fall.
Thick slices of orange are marinated in bourbon, honey, thyme and black pepper before they are slapped on the grill for a few minutes of high heat.
The charred slices are then muddled and shaken with yet more honey, bourbon and orange liqueur before the infused liquid is topped with chilled beer.
Yep. It not only sounds good; it's mighty tasty.
Do the charred oranges taste substantially different from plain old slices?
Well, if you have to ask, you may not notice the difference. The nuance is slight. But this is a beverage that works with or without the char.
