The Last Hurrah

The Last Hurrah - A HIghball cocktail using Free Spirits

As the days cool and the colors deepen, this vibrant highball brings one last burst of brightness to the glass. The Spirit of Bourbon provides an oaky, grounded base that steadies the sharper lines of passion fruit and lime, while fresh mint adds a brisk, aromatic lift. Bitters deepen the profile without weighing it down, and soda stretches everything into a tall, refreshing structure. The result is a crisp, late-season highball with warmth, tension, and a clean, tropical edge.

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Why This Works

The drink holds together because its elements push in complementary directions. The Spirit of Bourbon brings oak, vanilla, and weight, giving the passion fruit syrup something to anchor against. Lime sharpens the edges and keeps the syrup from reading dense, while bitters layer in warmth and spice. Mint freshens the mid-palate and restores lift once the soda is added. The structure stays linear: bright up front, grounded underneath, and long through the finish — a clean study in seasonal contrast.

About Free Spirits: The Spirit of Bourbon

The Spirit of Bourbon is modeled on the depth and structure of Kentucky bourbon, crafted with real American oak and natural extracts to capture warm spice, vanilla, and char without leaning sweet. It has the weight needed for bourbon cocktails: body to stand up to bitters, clarity for stirred drinks, and balance to carry citrus in Sours and Gold Rush variations. It holds shape and provides backbone alongside bold ingredients like ginger, honey, or aromatic bitters. Performs reliably in Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, Boulevardiers, and any cocktail that expects whiskey with character and restraint.

Bourbon Highballs in Seasonal Transition

The Last Hurrah echoes a modern pattern in bourbon highballs that pair oak-driven structure with sharp, aromatic fruit to keep the drink light without losing depth. Passion fruit has become a common counterpoint in contemporary builds for its acidity and concentrated flavor, especially when used to bridge warm-weather profiles into cooler seasons. The highball format preserves that ease — tall, carbonated, and built for steady dilution.

Zero-Proof Cocktail Basics

What is a zero-proof cocktail?

A zero-proof cocktail is a fully built drink that follows the same principles as any classic: acid, sweetness, aromatics, dilution, and a defined base spirit. The difference is the base is non-alcoholic. When that spirit has enough structure and character, like the ones we make, you get a cocktail that drinks like a cocktail, not a compromise.

How do non-alcoholic spirits work in classic cocktail recipes?

Non-alcoholic spirits step into the role of the base spirit. They carry citrus, sugar, bitters, and dilution the same way their alcoholic counterparts do. Some recipes need small ratio adjustments, but the technique stays the same: build the drink, balance the elements, and let the base spirit define the profile.

Do zero-proof cocktails taste like the originals?

They taste like cocktails: recognizable, structured, and intentional. The goal isn't imitation; it's integrity. When the build is balanced and the spirit has presence, you get the character of the drink without relying on alcohol to do the work.

Can zero-proof cocktails have real complexity?

Yes. Complexity comes from design, not ethanol. A well-built zero-proof cocktail shows layers: aromatics, texture, finish. The craft sits in the composition, not the ABV. The right non-alcoholic spirit brings the structure; the ingredients do the rest.

What is the difference between zero-proof and low-proof cocktails?

Zero-proof cocktails contain no alcohol. Low-proof cocktails blend traditional spirits with non-alcoholic spirits to dial down the ABV while keeping the drink's identity intact. It's the easiest way to keep the ritual, cut the intensity, and stay in full control of the experience.

Why does Free Spirits work so well in both zero-proof and low-proof cocktails?

The Spirit of Bourbon is built with oak-forward depth and enough body to hold bitters and sweetness in balance. Whether you use it as the sole base or split it with traditional bourbon, it behaves like a true cocktail foundation, keeping the drink structured, complex, and true to form.