Revolver
Bourbon and coffee liqueur make a roasted, spirit-forward duo, with orange bitters connecting the two aromatic directions.
Named source specification · 1 reference serve.
Glassware
Technique
Ice
Garnish
Preparation effort
Ingredients & measurements
| Ingredient | mL | US fl oz | Source measure / qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| bourbon | 59.15 | 2 | 2 ounces bourbon |
| coffee liqueur | 14.79 | 0.5 | 1/2 ounce coffee liqueur |
| rich simple syrup (optional) | 2.46 | 0.08 | 1/12 ounce rich simple syrup (optional) |
| 3 dashes orange bitters | — | — | 3 dashes orange bitters |
Converted equivalents are rounded for display; use one measurement system consistently. Dashes, spoonfuls, fruit counts and unspecified top-ups remain source measures. A blank equivalent does not mean zero.
How to make it
Stir over ice and strain into a chilled glass. Express orange peel; an unflamed twist is the house presentation.
Glass: Nick & Nora. Ice: None in serving glass. Garnish: Orange twist.
Flavor & balance
- Sweet (dominant): Sweeteners, fruit or sweetened modifiers round the attack and add weight; product sugar varies.
- Boozy (Spirit-Forward) (dominant): Perceived spirit prominence and alcohol warmth, not a laboratory ABV estimate. This emphasis is an editorial expectation for the selected recipe.
- Bitter (supporting): Cocktail bitters or coffee contribute a bitter accent; a small dose need not dominate.
Assess sweetness, bitterness and tactile drying separately. These flavor expectations are based on recipe structure, not measured tasting scores. Actual products, ice and dilution will change the result.
Preparation & batching
Service complexity: low. Batchability: premix with dilution trial.
- Measure and label the chosen product specification; chill appropriate glassware.
- Prepare or select the named syrup; record its concentration and follow its storage instructions.
- Set coffee extraction or preparation separately; standardize its yield and temperature.
Finish chilling, dilution and garnish at service. Trial the actual serving method before approving a batch. Workload is an editorial assessment; no labor timing or storage validation is claimed.
Spirit & ingredient choices
Recipe notes & variations
Difford attributes the original to Jon Santer in 2004. This published adaptation includes optional syrup and a different coffee liqueur; it is not presented as the original specification.
For a Black Flannel variation, change one component at a time and record the selected product, proof, sweetener concentration and dilution. Compare it with this reference before naming or publishing the variation.
Sources & further reading
- Difford’s Guide — checked 2026-09-18. Recipe identity and published ingredient specification; editorial sensory and workload assessments are not source tasting results.