Brianna Madia Signature Cocktails

Drinks by Honest John Bitters, dogs by Brianna Madia

You may remember, in 2022, Barebones was lucky enough to host Brianna Madia at our headquarters for her book signing, “Nowhere For Very Long”. At the event, many of us also got to meet her renowned dogs: Birdie, Bucket, Dagwood, and Banjo. We asked Brianna Madia to share four signature cocktails, inspired by these friendly hounds, paired with our favorite local bitters by Honest John.

“As for the fam these days, we're packing up and heading down to Baja for the winter so I can continue writing my second book. Dagwood will be 11 this week (!!), and Bucket turns 12 in January, so we'll celebrate with a day of her favorite thing on earth: swimming in the ocean. And I'll attempt to make her signature cocktail on that day, too, of course.” - Brianna

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How to Make The Birdie

Ingredients

• 1.5 ounces vodka
• 0.5 ounces triple sec
• 0.5 ounces lemon
• 1 ounce blood orange juice
• 3 dashes Honest John Cara Cara Orange Bitters

Materials

• 1 Cocktail Shaker
• 1 Enamel Mug

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a shaker tin.
2. Shake until the rim is frosty.
3. Garnish with a half-moon slice of blood orange.
4. Add ice and strain into a couple of glasses.

Birdie The Dog

Birdie is a total goofball with a serious pep to her step. She can instantly lighten the mood of any room she enters, so the lemon, blood orange, and orange bitters really capture that lighthearted, fun Birdie energy.

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How to Make The Bucket

Ingredients

Pomegranate Lemon Cordial Ingredients

• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup sugar

Cocktail Ingredients

• 1 ounce pomegranate cordial
• 2 dashes Honest John Aromatic Bitters
• Champagne
• Pomegranate arils (for garnish)

Materials

• 1 Enamel Mug
• Enamel Sauce Pot

Instructions

Pomegranate Lemon Cordial:

1. Combine all ingredients in a sauce pot and cook over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Makes enough for 10 Bucket cocktails.

Cocktail instructions:

1. Add cordial and bitters to a couple of glasses.
2. Top with champagne.
3. Garnish with pomegranate arils.

Bucket The Dog

Bucket is the queen of class, but isn't afraid to be a bit sour when the mood calls for it. We knew right away her cocktail had to be champagne-based, but the pomegranate lemon cordial and the aromatic bitters made it just so...*her*.

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How to Make The Dagwood

Ingredients

• 1.5 ounces bourbon
• 0.5 ounces rye
• 0.25 ounces maple
• 0.25 ounces Averna Amaro
• 3 dashes Honest John Black Walnut Bitters
• Orange peel for garnish

Materials

• 1 Rocks glass
• Large Ice cubes

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a rocks glass.
2. Add a large ice cube.
3. Stir until chilled.
4. Garnish with an orange peel.

Dagwood The Dog

Dagwood is a timeless classic; an old western movie hero with a heart of gold...so bourbon and maple with those earthy aromatic bitters seemed to fit him perfectly. I can see him sitting at a bar with a cowboy hat on, drinking one as we speak.

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How to Make The Banjo

Ingredients

• 1.5 ounces tequila
• 0.75 ounces lime
• 0.5 ounces simple syrup
• 2 dashes Honest John Lemongrass Cardamom Bitters
• Soda water
• Pear + Fresno pepper for garnish

Materials

• 1 Collins glass
• Cocktail shaker

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a shaker tin.
2. Add ice.
3. Shake until the tin is frosty.
4. Pour into a Collins glass and top with soda.
5. Garnish with pear and Fresno pepper slices

Banjo The Dog

Banjo is a traditional youngest sibling in that he's a whole lot of feisty, but a whole lot of fun. A Fresno pepper-infused tequila cocktail is exactly what he'd have his older siblings drinking when they came to visit him at college.

 ABOUT 

Brianna Madia

A woman defined by motion, Brianna Madia bought a beat-up bright orange van, filled it with her dogs, and headed into the canyons of Utah with her husband. Nowhere for Very Long is her best-selling novel of exploration—of the world outside and the spirit within.

Learn more at BriannaMadia.com

Honest John Bitters Co.

Owner Sara Lund incorporated Honest John Bitters Co. in 2016, highlighting original recipes developed in collaboration with bartenders and chefs at her downtown Salt Lake City bars Bodega and {the rest}. They produced the bitters to support the extensive bar program of the two spots, driven by the desire to make flavorful high-quality products with organic ingredients. The company quickly expanded to include local bitters education classes, wholesale distribution to craft cocktail bars, and selected stockists. 

Learn more at HonestJohnBitters.com