Why do they call it “The Dog Days of Summer?” It’s just vernacular, right? You imagine a lazy dog, roasting in the July sun, lolling with his tongue half out between trips to the water bowl. It’s “The Dog Days” because it makes you want to laze around like a dog in the sun, ok? Case closed. The truth, it turns out, is more complicated (and ancient).
It was in ancient Rome that the hottest days of the Summer season came to be known as “Dies Caniculares.” As with most things in Rome at this time, the season was associated with astrological bodies, in this case the star Sirius, known as the Dog Star because it was the brightest in the constellation Canis Major.
Mid July through August has been way too hot since WAY back in the day, it turns out, and where do you go for relief? Classic whisky cocktails. In honor of the Dog Days of Summer, here are three canine-themed refreshments to help you beat the summer heat.
FEW Rye Whiskey - Seeing Rye Dog
Our first cocktail comes straight off the menu at The Fat Dog in Los Angeles, a neighborhood grub pub in West Hollywood that features a dog-friendly patio and canine-related names for menu items. The Seeing Rye Dog is the first in our trio of fruity whiskey cocktails, this one featuring blackberries, ginger liqueur and basil. Perfect for FEW Rye Whiskey, a spicy rye that will lend its smokiness to the sweet blackberry.
Seeing Rye Dog
- FEW Rye Whiskey
- GInger Liqueur,
- Blackberries
- Basil
- Lemon Juice
- Sugar in the Raw
Muddle blackberries, basil and sugar in the bottom of a tumbler. Strain rye, liqueur and lemon juice with ice, pour over and stir.
Stranahans's Diamond Peak Colorado Whiskey - The Red Dog
The Red Dog is a fruity mix of whiskey, ginger ale and fruit juice. Best enjoyed with a single malt whiskey like Stranahans's Diamond Peak Colorado Whiskey, where the apricot and chocolate tones of the whiskey blend with the tartness of the fruit.
Red Dog Cocktail
- .5 oz. orange vodka
- 2 oz. Stranahans's Diamond Peak Colorado Whiskey
- 3 oz. ginger ale
- 1.5 oz. orange juice
-
1.5 oz. cranberry juice
Add all but ginger ale to cocktail shaker filled with ice; shake and strain. Pour over ice then fill glass with ginger ale.
Jack Daniels’ Gentleman Jack Whiskey - The Bulldog Smash
Next up, the Bulldog Smash - another fruity whiskey concoction, this one swaps orange and cranberry for lemon and peach. A perfect fit for Jack Daniels’ Gentleman Jack Whiskey, an inherently fruity version of the classic Jack which will compliment the peach and mint in this Smash.
The Bulldog Smash
- Half a lemon
- Half a peach, pitted
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves
- 1 tsp sugar cane syrup
- 2 oz Jack Daniels’ Gentleman Jack Whiskey
-
.75 oz Cointreau
In a shaker, muddle your lemon, peach, mint, and sugar cane syrup. Add the bourbon and Cointreau. Fill your shaker with ice. Shake, strain into a glass, and fill that with crushed ice. Garnish with an extra sprig of mint for flair.
These drinks may not be the cure-all for the dog days, but they’re certainly tasty (and the glass feels really good against your forehead, too). Check out Cask Cartel for all your liquor needs.
