This is major departure from the original components of it’s origin recipe the Last Word, this cocktial created by Justin Burrow of the Anvil and Refuge bar in Houston, TX. Batavia Arrack, a proto-rum spirit stands out in this mix, combining carribean spices coming from Velvet Falernum with the softer herbal notes of Yellow (v. Green) Chartreuse.
I’ve always been a weather geek. So it was only natural that I joined The Weather Company to direct its advertising technology practice a few years ago. Every time a land-falling hurricane heads to the U.S., it’s all hands on deck to fulfill our mission keeping people out of harm’s way. After some of these storms, I would turn to this New Orleans classic. Here’s the best variant I’ve found to date, created by Ferrel Dugas, (former) Bar Chef at Commander’s Palace, New Orleans. The drink’s secret ingredient is fassionola syrup, a key to tiki classics like the Hurricane and the Cobra’s Fang. I’m aware of only one commercial source, and it’s only made in a limited run once a year when Louisiana strawberries are in season. It includes strawberries from Ponchatoula, LA, fresh pineapple, mango, passionfruit, lime peels, and hibiscus flowers.
The Last Word is far from the final statement on 4-ingredient cocktails, but it could be one of my favorites. Originally the Prohibition-era signature drink of the Detroit Athletic Club, the recipe was published in the 1950s but didn’t become part of the cocktail revolution until just this side of the turn of the century. It was almost lost to obscurity until it was rescued in the mid-aughts by a Seattle bartender. It’s amazing how differently these variations taste, with huge swings in flavor profile but barely different ingredients. The possibilities here are endless, and serve as the ideal template for further experimentation. One variant, The Paper Plane made up of equal parts bourbon, Amaro Nonino Quintessentia, and lemon, is one of my absolute favorites.
After a freezing evening of astronomy, I thought “Fire in the Orchard” this would fit the bill. Created at No 9. Park in Boston, the fire comes from Del Maguey single-village origin mezcal, while apple brandy and pear liqueur supply the fruit. Lemon and agave give balance to the mezcal’s smoke.
