The Mother Tongue

A riff on a hot toddy for book lovers this October. The Mother Tongue lengthens New Dawn's 6-Year Cask Strength Bourbon with roasted tea, taro, orange, cinnamon, and star anise for a drink to savor as you contemplate legacy. Paired with Shay Kauwe's The Killing Spell.

The Mother Tongue

2 oz New Dawn 6-Year Cask Strength Bourbon

3 oz hot, strongly brewed roasted tea (hōjicha or roasted-barley tea)

½ oz taro syrup *(see note)

Warm the mug with hot water and discard it. Add the bourbon and taro syrup, top with the hot tea, and stir once. Garnish: A cinnamon stick and a whole star anise, floated. Serve steaming.

Taro syrup: Whisk 2 Tbsp taro powder into 1 cup hot water until smooth; stir in 1 cup sugar until dissolved; cool. Keeps refrigerated ~1 week. *No taro? A spiced demerara — demerara sugar simmered with a cinnamon stick and a star anise — works beautifully.