Bourbon Maid

It's easy to miss the unassuming, plywood entrance to East Side Company Bar among the closed storefronts on late-night Essex Street. But after a few more passes, you'll find a Lower East Side haven for cocktail lovers of all stripes.

Bartender Jose Ortiz was eager to show off a summer favorite: the "one-of-a-kind," decidedly off-the-menu Bourbon Maid. Adventurous patrons go for the fresh cucumber and mint. The seasonal goodness, Ortiz warns, can overpower the bourbon - that is, "until you taste it."

This refreshing drink is perfect for the scorching days of summer.

Ingredients

Pinch of fresh mint
4 cucumber slices
25 milliters simple syrup
25 milliters lemon juice
50 milliters. bourbon

Directions

Muddle mint, cucumbers, simple syrup and lemon juice.

Add bourbon.

Add ice, shake vigorously, and strain.

Add a large ice cube and decorate glass with a single cucumber slice.

Tip: "Use your nose": rip the mint to maximize the flavor.

East Side Company Bar
49 Essex St. New York, NY 10002