This past weekend I had the honor of mixing a beer cocktail for Firestone Walker’s “From the Barrel” event at the Santa Margarita Ranch. The entire event was centered around beverages that hail from a barrel — specifically Bourbon, Port and barrel-aged beers.

I was challenged to mix a cocktail with one of Firestone Walker’s delicious ales, as well as Bourbon. To best compliment the vanilla and toasted oak flavors in the Bourbon, I opted to use Walker’s Reserve — a robust porter boasting rich flavors of toffee, caramel and bittersweet chocolate.

In my mind, nothing pairs better with chocolate and vanilla flavors like berries. For this particular cocktail, I chose to use blackberries (quite possibly my favorite of the berry family). Add touch of blood orange juice and a few dash of bitters, and you have one killer cocktail.

The Fire Walker

Ingredients

• 1 oz. Bourbon
• .5 oz. Blackberry syrup
• .25 oz. Blood Orange Juice
• 2 oz. Walker Reserve Porter
• Bitters
• Orange Peel Garnish

Instructions

Shake Bourbon, blackberry syrup, blood orange juice, and bitters with ice and strain into a martini glass or brandy snifter. Dry shake porter (gently) and strain into glass. Garnish with orange peel.