Featured Recipe: Kentucky Kraken

One of my core resolutions for 2022 is to expand my horizon by incorporating lesser used alcohols into my tiki repertoire.

While I’ve never been a fan of whiskey, Kentucky bourbon has always held a special place in my heart — after all, Wild Turkey 101 neat was the first drink that I ever consumed.

This week, we’re bringing a little bit of Midwest Americana to the world of tiki with our newest recipe: the Kentucky Kraken.

This drink blends an American classic (bourbon and ginger) with a tropical twist (pineapple juice and citrus) — producing a unique and savory tiki drink that is both simple to make and pleasing to all palettes.

The following post provides the necessary ingredients and steps for making this drink at home. Let us know what you think in the comments — cheers!

Recipe/ Instructions:

Glassware: Old Fashioned Glass

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Kentucky Bourbon (we used Four Roses)
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1 oz pineapple juice
• ¾ oz ginger syrup (we used Morris Kitchen Ginger Syrup)

Cocktail Steps:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake of 10 seconds. Pour over crushed ice. Add 3-4 drops of Angostura bitters. 

Garnish:
Garnish with candied ginger on a cocktail pick.

Wayward Spirits Rating:
Overall Score - 4.5

The Kentucky Kraken is delicious and simple to make. It’s a fantastic choice for those who don’t particularly care for rum (or stereotype tiki drinks as “too sweet”). At bare minimum, it provides a much needed alternative to juleps and Kentucky mules (which I personally feel are a bit played out).

I’d recommend experimenting with different bourbon’s for this recipe — for example, we used Four Roses bourbon (which was absolutely delicious), but higher proof (or small batch) bourbons may produce a whole new flavor, possibly worth exploring.