David Thornton
The Boulevardier was created by Erskine Gwynne, an American writer living in Paris in the 1920s. It's essentially a Negroni with bourbon replacing gin, which shifts the flavour from herbaceous to rich and warming.
Bourbon vs Rye
Bourbon makes a rounder, sweeter Boulevardier. Rye makes it drier and spicier, closer to the bite of a gin Negroni. Both are excellent — it's a matter of mood.
The Ratio
Classic equal parts (1:1:1) works, but many bartenders prefer 1.5:1:1 (more whiskey) since bourbon is less forceful than gin. Experiment to find your balance.
