Revolver

Sadly, the cocktail world lost a titan a few weeks ago. Gary ‘Gaz’ Regan was born in the United Kingdom in 1951, but relocated to America in the 1970s, working as a bartender in New York. He went on to train barkeeps in major U.S. cocktail-loving cities including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and Boston. Arguably, Regan’s biggest contribution to the bartending profession was his two books on mixology- The Bartender’s Bible, written in 1991, and the Joy of Mixology, written in 2004 during the rebirth of the classic cocktail scene which spread throughout the country.

Lounge Lizards, however, probably know Regan best, however, for the orange bitters that sports his name and face- a mainstay here in the Firewater Lounge- Regans’ #6 Orange Bitters. Regans’ #6 is not only the bitters of choice for when we pour classics like the Martinez and Satan’s Curled Whiskers, but also for our own famed creations like the Swine and Vine Cocktail and the Nightfall on the Lake.

Our favorite use of Regans’ #6, though, is in the Revolver. Created in 2004 by Jon Santer, the reknowned barman behind the success of San Francisco’s Bourbon & Branch, the Revolver is a modern classic using ingredients that are easy for a Lounge Lizard to find. In honor of Gaz’s memory, raid your liquor cabinet and make one this New Year’s Eve with us. It will be a resolution you’ll love to keep.

Revolver (Classic Pours Series)

2 ounces of bourbon (Santer uses Bulleit)
½ ounce of coffee liqueur (Santer uses Tia Maria)
2 dashes of Regans’ #6 orange bitters

Mix all ingredients on ice in a stirring vessel. Stir until chilled. Pour into a coupe or cocktail glass.
Garnish with a flamed orange peel.

If you don’t have Bulleit or Tia Maria, remember Santer made this cocktail with home bar versatility, so substitute any bourbon you like and/or replace the Tia Maria with Kamora or Kaluha. Your Revolver will be just as good.