The Bell Ringer
A bold, fruit-forward bourbon cocktail with muddled red bell pepper, fresh lemon, and a touch of maple and maraschino. The pepper adds a subtle vegetal sweetness that plays against the brightness of the lemon — unexpected, but it works completely. Smoother than it sounds, and more interesting than it looks simple.
This cocktail is part of our Date Nite collection, made to be sipped while you cook together.
Build Your Drink
INGREDIENTs
2 oz bourbon
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz maple syrup (scant)
1/4 oz maraschino liqueur
2–3 slices red bell pepper
COCKTAIL METHOD
Add the red bell pepper slices to a cocktail shaker and muddle well.
Add bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, and maraschino liqueur.
Fill with ice and shake well.
Fine strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass.
Garnish with a slice of red bell pepper.
Notes from the Bar
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BOURBON SELECTION
This cocktail works best with a medium-bodied bourbon. Something with a little sweetness to it. We reach for Maker's Mark or Buffalo Trace here. Avoid anything too smoky or heavily oaked, which can overwhelm the pepper.
WHAT THE PEPPER DOES
Red bell pepper has a natural sweetness that reads more fruit than vegetable once muddled with citrus. It adds depth and a slightly floral quality without any heat. Don't skip the fine straining. It keeps the texture clean.
MAPLE SYRUP MATTERS
Use real maple syrup, not pancake syrup. The "scant" half ounce matters here because you want just enough sweetness to balance the lemon without making it cloying. Grade A dark amber gives the best flavor.
MARASCHINO LIQUEUR
Maraschino liqueur (Luxardo is the go-to) adds a subtle cherry-almond note that ties the pepper and bourbon together. It's a small pour but it does a lot. Not the same as maraschino cherry juice. Look for the bottle with the straw wrapping.
MAKE IT YOUR OWN
Want a little heat? Add a thin jalapeño slice to the muddle alongside the pepper. Want it boozier? Skip the club soda and serve it straight up, strained into a coupe.
Because every drink deserves a beautiful moment.
A ritual we return to
Our cocktails are part of something bigger for us. They’re the beginning of Date Nite, a connection-centered experience we created to help you slow down, share a meal, and enjoy time with the one you love.
Each Date Nite is thoughtfully planned for you, so you are not stuck deciding what to cook or how to pull the night together. We pair one cocktail with a complete menu, a simple flow from prep to plate, and small details that make the evening feel easy and connected from start to finish.
It is not about perfection. It is about presence, and creating space to reconnect, whether that is with your partner or simply with yourself, over a really good meal.
Start with one free Date Nite menu
We created this for you — and the one you love.
Kevin & Kate
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