Cocktail Hour: Jack Rudy Cocktail Co.
As we patiently prepare for the debut of our Summer Box, first we toast to some of our favorite feature brands! In this two part series we will highlight our choice cocktail mixers from our friends at Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. and Blank Slate Kitchen.
The good ol’ boys down at Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. have been with us since the beginning. In fact, you could say their distinctly crafted products have helped to inspire our boxes! Their attractive packaging caught our eye instantly, and it was clear to see that the Kentucky-run company paid great attention to detail- a tenet of any great host.
Furthermore, their ingredients make entertaining in the home elegant and fun without all the fuss!
WE CURATED OUR FIRST COCKTAIL, THE MOSTESS ORIGINAL AROUND TWO OF OUR FAVORITES FROM JACK RUDY. THE RECIPE FOLLOWS:
To find out more about how Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. got started and continue to craft perfect cocktail mixers, we reached out to one of the cofounders, Taylor Huber.
“Mostess: I see that your jack-of-all-trades great granddad has been the inspiration behind your brand. Did he ever talk about creating a cocktail recipe?
Huber: Jack Rudy never talked about creating a cocktail recipe, our inspiration wasn’t quite that direct. It was a combination of our great-grandfather’s innovation and adventurous spirit that
inspired us to name the company after him.
Mostess: What was his favorite drink?
Huber: He was quite partial to the Hurricane, made famous by Pat O’Brien’s in New Orleans.
Mostess: On your website you mention that Jack loved to entertain. Because Mostess Box is catered for entertaining in the home, do you have any stories you could share with us about a memorable Jack-Rudy-hosting moment?
Huber: Sadly we don’t have any stories, as he passed away before either of us had the chance to meet him. His legacy lives on through the stories told to us by our Great-Grandmother and Grandmother.
“Mostess: Can you tell our readers more about these gourmet dinners that your great grandma used to prepare?
Huber: She was a southern lady through and through, so it was cornbread, casseroles and fried-chicken that always adorned her dinner table. Bourbon on the rocks and an ice-cold Gin Gibson often accompanied the food. We are Kentuckians, if there is one thing we know how to do well it’s drink (and gamble on horses of course).
“Mostess: We’ve received a ton of positive feedback about your small batch tonics. How did you come up with the idea to reimagine the classic G & T?
Huber: Brooks was tending bar in Louisville, KY and found that the tonic water on the market just didn’t stand up to the litany of higher-end Gins that people were ordering at his bar. He did some research on Tonic Syrups, believing this was the easiest solution at the time, and a recipe was born. The recipe has evolved quite a bit from that original formula, but that’s where it all began.
Mostess: What is your process like for selecting the perfect ingredients in your products?
Huber: Quite simply, we come up with an idea and if we both like it then we start with a general flavor profile. We start with those ingredients and then we tinker, sometimes weeks, sometimes years, until we get something as close to perfect as possible.
Mostess: Your aromatic bitters packaging boasts “inherent restorative qualities” could you talk a little more about that?
Huber: Bitters were said to help cure everything from seasickness, to hiccups and upset stomach back in the day, and we wanted to play on that a little bit. The combination of roots and spices definitely help with a mean hangover. Just add a couple drops to some ice-cold sparkling water.
Mostess: Do you have a personal favorite when it comes to your products?
Huber: My personal favorite is our Elderflower Tonic. It makes such an amazing Gin & Tonic that gives you a hint of sweetness, a hint of bitterness and a dry finish- all the things that you love about a G&T, in perfect moderation. Lately, I also love the Sweet Tea Syrup with Tequila and lime juice. For a non-alcoholic drink, the Grenadine is great added to Soda Water or Ginger Ale.
Mostess: Any other future plans you’d like to tease?
Huber: Our Bourbon Cocktail Cherries have been wildly popular, and we’d love to add some more interesting garnishes to our product line. We’re also in the recipe testing stages for another mixer that should be exciting for the Bourbon lovers out there, so stay tuned for that!
We can’t wait to see what else the boys down at Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. have in store for us, and in the meantime we’ve used their products in several more recipes to boot!