Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/977771
may 2018 / the tasting panel / 49 "Highballs are the one cocktail everyone can make," says Jack Daniel's U.S. Brand Ambassador Eric "ET" Tecosky. Highballs have earned their spot in spot in spot cocktail history due history due history to their accessibility, versatility, and endless pos- sibilities for customization. As Tecosky says, Tecosky says, Tecosky "They can "They can "They stay true stay true stay to form and be perfect, or people can add their own unique touch to create something different and different and different delicious." From the Jack and Coke to the Lynchburg Lemonade, Jack Daniel's iconic cocktails are almost interchangeable almost interchangeable almost in the bar community's lexicon when it comes it comes it to the ever-popular Highball. To honor this legacy, The Tasting Panel spoke Panel spoke Panel to bar professionals across the country about country about country the about the about role Jack Highballs have played in their careers and how they're incorporating their own distinct style distinct style distinct into the classic drink. SEAN ANDERSON BAR MANAGER AT NORTH THIRD, PHILADELPHIA, PA Sean Anderson, Bar Manager of North Third in Philadelphia, is in awe of the universal appeal of Jack Daniel's. "When your namesake is on any sort of generic drinks manual like the Jack and Coke or Jack and Ginger, that's crazy brand recognition," he explains. North Third is a high-volume bar, with Anderson and his staff cranking out too many Jack Highballs to count nearly every night. "A Jack Highball is classic because it's a really well-made product," says Anderson. "It sells itself and people order it without thinking about the quality of the Coke or the bar cola— it's just the name Jack." Like North Third's other ingredients, the soda in Anderson's Jack and Ginger is house- made; with its embrace of lime and Angostura, the cocktail is a light and breezy take on a bar standard. "To do something on a craft level that appeals to the masses is the element [of this drink] that really intrigues me," he says. Considering the ubiquity of the Jack Highball, Anderson aims to take a gentle approach toward nudging his drinkers out of their comfort zone by elevating classic flavors they're already familiar with. "You can never replicate a Jack and Coke, but you can experi- ment with the pop culture and the drinking culture status of it," he adds. "Playing with that is really fun." PHOTO: FELICIA PERRETTI PHOTO: FELICIA PERRETTI Jack and Ginger ◗ 1½ oz. Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 ◗ 3½ oz. housemade ginger beer ◗ ¼ lime wedge ◗ 3 dashes Angostura bitters Build in glass starting with ginger beer. Add ice. Float Jack Daniel's, then squeeze lime and dash Angostura on the lime wedge. The guest will push the lime wedge into the drink with their straw to fully incorporate all the flavor elements.