by Gail Seymour

Created on: January 11, 2010

Whether the General Sherman was named after the much hated American Civil War military figure because of his red hair or because of his 'scorched earth' policy of burning and destroying property when retreating from confederate forces remains unclear. Either way, the General Sherman is a simple bourbon based duo cocktail served in a shot glass with Tabasco sauce. A duo cocktail is one with only two ingredients.

Intended to be knocked back, the general Sherman is a real throat burner of the Prairie Fire family that's both warming and invigorating as well as intoxicating.

Ingredients:

* 1 to 2 measures Southern Comfort or bourbon of choice
* Tabasco sauce to taste

Method

* Serve Southern Comfort or Bourbon of choice in a shot glass
* Add a few drops of Tabasco sauce
* Down in one

Variations:

The General Sherman combines bourbon and Tabasco sauce, but there are a few common variations on this theme, all combining Tabasco with an alternative spirit. Here are the most popular:

* TNT or Prairie Fire - substitute tequila for bourbon for a real throat burner
* Angel's Tit - substitute vodka for bourbon to let the peppery Tabasco sauce shine through
* Heart of Fire - substitute whiskey for bourbon for a smoother burning sensation
* Hellfire – replace bourbon with cinnamon flavored liqueur such as Goldschlager. The sweet but hot sensation of the Goldshlager combined with the peppery heat of the tabasco is an aquired taste, though.

Although it has been suggested that a General Sherman can be made with bourbon and ginger beer, in a cocktail glass by adding the bourbon to a glass with frozen peach slices arranged and topping up with ginger beer, this is inaccurate. Bourbon and ginger ale is generally a longer drink, served as a highball and known as a Presbyterian. Serving it as a shorter drink and adding the fruit may challenge the description as a Presbyterian, but it doesn't make it a General Sherman.

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