What Exactly Is A Boilermaker Drink?

With all the elegant cocktails bars have at their disposal, it's easy to overlook some simpler concoctions that folks have relished for years. There's nothing wrong with mixed drinks containing half a dozen ingredients, but sometimes the merger between two straightforward alcohols is the match made in heaven you really want. If you're looking for a refreshment with more substance than frills, you might want to consider ordering a boilermaker on your next night out.

An uncomplicated combination of whiskey and beer, the boilermaker can be made using any variety of whiskey you like. It is often served with a domestic beer, but any cold one that complements the whiskey — and vice versa — will do the trick. The key is to find a combination that complements or contrasts one another to highlight the characteristics of each drink.

Once known as a boorish concoction made for people first learning about alcohol when a night out enjoying drinks can quickly turn into a chugging contest, the boilermaker is making a resurgence as a tasteful pairing to be sipped and savored casually. Today, many bartenders serve the two beverages side-by-side rather than dropping the shot into the beer glass, allowing you to take in as much as you like from either glass to find the right combination that fits your tastes. Countless combinations of spirits and suds can be used to concoct a boilermaker, allowing you to tailor it to your specific preferences.

Bartenders worldwide are elevating boilermakers by carefully pairing the two beverages that compose it, so they harmoniously blend as they are consumed. Although the difference between bourbon and Scotch is stark, either can be used to spawn a boilermaker. The same goes for the beer pairing. Whatever brand of suds complements or contrasts with the spirit is a perfect match for a boilermaker.

While whiskey is the traditional liquor used to create a boilermaker in the U.S., other spirits have been used in recent years to elevate the flavor combo. An offshoot called the Spaghett is made by pairing a Miller High Life and Campari, an ingredient used to make Anthony Bourdain's favorite cocktail. Another rendition calls for the same beer with a lesser-known spirit Fernet-Branca — a minty, bitter liquor that contrasts with Miller's easy drinkability. If you want to go way outside the box, Eagle Rare 10 bourbon coupled with a stout Guinness is a recommended combination. You could also keep it simple and order an Irish whiskey paired with an IPA.

And the U.S. isn't the only country making these rugged drinks. In Germany, an interpretation of the boilermaker is composed of a glass of beer and a liquor called Korn — a grain-based alcohol akin to vodka. The Dutch make a version called a Kopstootje, which translates to "little headbutt." This adaptation integrates beer and a shot of Genever — a popular spirit in Belgium and the Netherlands with qualities similar to whiskey.

The term boilermaker refers to metalworkers who constructed steam locomotives in the 19th century. It was backbreaking work that left the craftsmen drained after a long day. Ordering a shot of whiskey and a beer to soothe their sore muscles at the end of the day was such a regular occurrence for these folks that the drink took on their identity.

Because the drink was named after metalworkers who toiled daily in arduous conditions, it gained a reputation for being a sort of "tough guy" drink. Today, the boilermaker has been reinvented into a well-thought-out synchronization of flavorful spirits accompanied by a cold glass of beer that ties all the subtleties of both together. If you know the boilermaker from its reputation as a frat house "challenge" drink, consider giving the updated versions a shot. You may be surprised how well whiskey and beer can be enjoyed together leisurely — especially if you know how to sip on whiskey like a pro.