Popcorn-Bourbon Toddy

As Joe used the iSi whip cream dispenser to flash infuse some freshly popped popcorn into some bourbon, I prepared some spiced butter using the same winter spice mix that we used to make the vin brûlée. Once everything was ready, a tasty toddy was born. Delicious, fun, rather unusual, and seasonally appropriate. Not only would drinking one of these be a fine way to warm yourself up, it'd also go really well with a movie.

Popcorn Toddy2 oz Popcorn-infused Bourbon1 oz Brown sugar syrup.75 oz Lemon juice1 tablespoon Spiced butterDash of bitters2 oz Near-boiling water (to top)Melt the butter and spices together. Add ingredients to a snifter, top with 2 oz near-boiling water. Garnish with a popcorn skewer.

We originally wanted to use a rye, Old Overholt, as it tastes particularly corny on its own, but, alas, we didn't quite have enough of it left to make the infusion, which is why we used bourbon instead. However, this was no loss, and I think it was actually a blessing in disguise because the bourbon perhaps adds more character and complexity. Still, I'd like to revisit this concept and use the 'holt next time because it'd be interesting to see how its corniness bridges the whisky to the popcorn flavor. Then again, having said that, we've sworn off Old Overholt. Ever since Joe and I noticed how corny it tastes, it's all we can taste. Its corniness almost ruins most drinks, in fact, and for that reason, we probably won't be restocking that bottle. Yet I feel like every spirit has its uses, and perhaps this drink would be well suited to the corny corn corn taste of the 'holt.I was a bit worried that the popcorn flavor in the bourbon wouldn't be very strong, but I was pleasantly surprised by the results of our infusion. The sip tastes like warm, slightly buttery, spicy bourbon, and smells like cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise. As you swallow, you taste the popcorn, and the spices linger long enough to "season" the popcorn flavor, making it taste surprisingly like spiced popcorn.