New Riff Distilling recently recognized the legacy of Louisville-born Tom Bullock, the first Black bartender to author a cocktail book, with a limited-edition cocktail kit.
Designed so bourbon collectors can put their own “riffs” on Bullock’s whiskey cocktails, fans can also follow #TheIdealRiff on social media to learn more and see other submissions.
“Bullock is such an important figure in bartending, but his story isn’t well-known by the general public,” said Creola Dickerson, chairperson of New Riff’s Diversity Inclusion Group committee. “There remains a lack of diversity in bartending today and we’d love to see more people of color This is a way to get copies of his book into more homes and give people a chance to explore Bullock’s recipes.”
The cocktail kit includes two airplane-sized bottles of New Riff’s bottled-in-bond bourbon, a wobbly rocks glass, two coasters and a hardcover copy of Bullock’s The Ideal Bartender. The accompanying social media campaign runs now through April 10 on New Riff’s channels and by following #TheIdealRiff.
Bullock’s book was published in 1917 and includes well-known classics like the Mint Julep and the Old Fashion (sic), as well as forgotten recipes like the Onion Cocktail and the Fedora. It was largely forgotten until a first edition surfaced in an estate sale, was acquired by Cocktail Kingdom founder Greg Boehm, and subsequently republished in 2015.
New Riff Distilling’s Tom Bullock cocktail kits are available in its gift shop for $49.99.
