It's the end of the week. It's cold and dreary. I'm tired and don't want to be bothered with making a fussy cocktail right now. Luckily, the wife picked up an old copy of The Savoy Cocktail Book. As we flipped through it, we both agreed that a majority of these recipes consist of limited ingredients and seemed simple enough to make.
She opted for the Casino Old Tom Gin recipe consisting of gin and Luxardo Maraschino liqueur. This is a cherry liqueur, clear in color. Please don't confuse it with the cloyingly sweet maraschino cherry used for ice cream sundaes. The two are not interchangeable and will alter the palate of the cocktail. Needing to find a comparable drink for me, she recalled a cocktail from Death & Co that uses rye, Luxardo and no lemon. I'm forewarning you, these are strong, sipping cocktails, that are not for the faint of heart. They'll put hair on your chest and warm you to your bones.....just what I need.
His Cocktail - Fancy Free (Death & Co)
2 oz Rittenhouse Rye
1/2 oz Luxardo liqueur
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 dash Orange bitters
Orange twist for garnish
Combine all ingredients in a double rocks glass filled with ice. Stir to combine and garnish.
Her Cocktail - Casino Old Tom Gin (Savoy)
2 oz Old Tom Gin
1/4 oz Luxardo liqueur
1/4 oz fresh lemon juice
2 dashes Orange bitters
Orange twist and brandied cherry for garnish
Combine all ingredients in a double rocks glass filled with ice. Stir to combine and garnish.
Happy Drinking!