Editor’s Note: Slight change of pace with our Help Wanted guest blog post today. Instead of a bourbon review, we’re featuring a bourbon cookie recipe submitted by John Stancliffe. We hope you enjoy the change and chime in accordingly in the comments section. Also make sure to connect with John online at @dramgeek or @thedramgeek.

February 14^th is but a pour n swig away! In a perfect world we’d all adhere to the rhetoric that every day of the year is an opportunity to be extra loving to our better halves. Poppycock I say! The fact is most of us are typical casualties in the rat race of life. We tend to bring work home, watch too much TV and reserve most of our non-working energy for the kids. As a husband I am guilty of all of this and more. Less-than-perfect only begins to describe me. So I tend not to scoff at what Valentine’s Day represents – even if it is more commercial than personal. I embrace Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to show my wife, with action rather than words, that she is still the most important person in my life.

Every year since 2007 I traverse the internets seeking out the perfect recipe to make for my wife. The fancier the better! I’ve managed to prepare about half the recipes properly and in less than half of those instances was I forced to ask for her assistance. I’m much better in front of a grill than a stove top so cooking can be a challenge. Nevertheless I put forth a self-exhorted effort to make dishes ranging from Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta (success) to Greffeuille Lamb (disaster despite her help).

This year, I opted to combine my love for whiskey with my love for her (a slick line if I say so myself). As a precaution I thought it would be best to have a practice run first. After deciding on a super-duper awesome Brown Butter & Bourbon Cookies recipe I promptly sent my wife straight to the store to pick up the perfect ingredients. After receiving some well-deserved backlash (admittedly I can be a real tool) I set forth on round one.

After toiling in the kitchen for an hour I managed to not only screw up the recipe, but I’m pretty sure I learned the secret to making homemade play dough too. This one may have been a bit much for someone who’s only experience with baking involved frozen pizza. I am confident, with thorough confirmation from my ultra-patient wife that the fault was entirely my own and not the recipe or instructions. And so…

Round two. After deciding to go in an entirely different direction the Bourbon Toffee Cookies turned out amazing! My original inclination was to use Buffalo Trace Bourbon – extremely affordable and very sweet but in the end, however, I decided on Makers 46 – also affordable but less sweet. The cookies themselves are full of delectable goodies not the least of which includes plenty of sugar! A smooth & simple Bourbon flavor was all that was necessary.

Of course it was my wonderful wife who made the successful round of cookies. She thought it would be best to make them while I was at work so that I couldn’t provide any constructive input…

The good news is I get to eat super awesome Bourbon Toffee Cookies while I sip on super awesome Bourbon. The bad news is I still have to figure out what I’m making for Valentine’s Day.

Bourbon Toffee Cookies Recipe:

• 2 ½ cups un-sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon backing soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup softened unsalted butter
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup Bourbon
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup toffee bits

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda & salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk butter, sugar & brown sugar.
4. Beat in eggs, vanilla & Bourbon until smooth.
5. Methodically add flour mixture until fully combined.
6. Stir in chocolate chips & toffee bits.
7. Drop by rounded teaspoon-fulls onto cookie sheet.
8. Bake 8 – 10 minutes or until golden brown.
9. Let cool for five minutes, pour a glass of milk and a sip of Bourbon. Enjoy!