Midnight Cowboy

The Midnight Cowboy is a cocktail originating from the Prohibition era, consisting of three ingredients – bourbon, heavy cream (aka double cream) and dark Jamaican rum.

A variation of the original Cowboy cocktail, it’s prepared by shaking the ingredients with ice and served in a pre-chilled cocktail glass, typically garnished with a twist of orange peel.

The Midnight Cowboy is a cocktail that is rich, sweet, and creamy. The bourbon adds vanilla, caramel, and oak flavors that are enhanced by the molasses, caramel, vanilla, and spiced notes of dark Jamaican rum. The creaminess and sweetness of heavy cream make the drink indulgent, balancing the two spirits for a smooth drinking experience.

The exact origins of the Midnight Cowboy cocktail are uncertain. It is a variation of the Cowboy cocktail, made with whiskey and heavy cream, which dates back to the Prohibition era in the United States and appeared in bartender cocktail books from the 1920s and 1930s.

As to exactly when dark Jamaican rum was added is unknown. Some sources suggest that the drink was inspired by a film from the late 1960s, indicating that this variation may have been created in the early 1970s.

• Chill your glass
  For the best sipping experience, we suggest pre-chilling your cocktail glassware. This ensures your drink stays perfectly cold. Just place your glass in the freezer for about 30 minutes, and it will be ready for your ice-cold cocktail.
• Heavy cream
  We recommend using heavy cream for a Midnight Cowboy to achieve a smooth, velvety texture. With a fat content of 36–40%, heavy cream is less likely to curdle when mixed with acidic ingredients.

• Cowboy
  The Midnight Cowboy is a variation of the original Cowboy cocktail made with Scotch whisky and heavy cream. Personally, we prefer bourbon but try both and see which you prefer. Check out the recipe for a classic Cowboy cocktail.
• Bourbon-forward 
  Our Midnight Cowboy recipe uses a ratio of 2 parts bourbon and dark Jamaican rum to 1 part heavy cream. However, since the original cocktail is bourbon-based, you might want to highlight the bourbon’s flavors more prominently. Here’s how you can modify the parts:

  Our recipe:

  • 2 parts Bourbon
  • 2 parts Dark Jamaican rum
  • 1 part Heavy cream

  Adjusted recipe:

  • 2 parts Bourbon
  • 1 part Dark Jamaican rum
  • 1 part Heavy cream
• Try different whiskies 
  While we like the taste of bourbon in our Midnight Cocktail, try other whiskey varieties, such as rye whiskey, Irish whiskey, or even peated whiskey to add a smoky dimension to your Midnight Cowboy.
• Make your drink with single cream
  Some recipes for a Midnight Cowboy suggest single cream. While we prefer using heavy cream for that luxurious, fuller mouthfeel, feel free to swap heavy cream for single cream.

  Single cream will give your drink a thinner consistency, while still providing subtle creaminess without the heaviness of heavy cream.

• Walnut bitters
  Consider adding a couple of dashes of walnut bitters to your Midnight Cowboy cocktail. These bitters offer a nutty and woody flavor with hints of dark chocolate and roasted nuts, which pair wonderfully with whiskey and add further complexity to your drink.

• We recommend serving the Midnight Cowboy in a pre-chilled cocktail glass.
• While our recipe doesn’t call for a garnish, you can enhance the presentation by adding a twist of orange zest or a slice of orange on the rim.
• To add a new element to your drink, grate some fresh nutmeg on top, together with orange zest.