Photograph by Kevin A. Roberts
During the dead of winter, most of us gravitate toward full-bodied red wines and hearty cocktails. The latter have a side benefit: the endless array of new cocktails that stand on the shoulders of familiar classics. I’m continually conducting research on cocktails (read: drinking them) that successfully combine unlikely ingredients. Serious and innovative cocktail menus have sprung up all around town, so it shouldn’t be difficult to discover these tasty gems for yourself. A few of my favorites are below.
1. A relative newcomer to the “serious” cocktail arena is the Mahogany, created in 2003 by Robert Hess, one of the country’s leading mixologists. This treasure combines dry vermouth, Bénédictine liqueur, cinnamon schnapps, and Jägermeister—that’s right, the ol’ college staple. The equally forceful Bénédictine adds sweetness, while the cinnamon schnapps distracts from the herbs and spices of the Jägermeister.
Mahogany Recipe
1 ½ oz. dry vermouth
¾ oz. Jägermeister
¾ oz. Benedictine
1 dash of cinnamon schnapps
Stir all but the cinnamon schnapps with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass that has been rim coated with the schnapps.
2. Another great cold-weather libation is the Gotham, a blend of brandy, absinthe, and peach bitters. The beverage is strong and flavorful, with its drinkability (i.e., quality) driven by the brandy’s pedigree; I suggest a VS cognac or higher. The highest satisfaction is awarded to those who don’t skimp. If you’re making this one at home, be sure to use Fee Brothers peach bitters ($6 or so online).
Gotham Recipe
½ teaspoon absinthe
3 dashes of Fee Brothers peach bitters
3 oz. V.S. (or better) cognac
Stir cognac and peach bitters with ice in a shaker glass (never shake brown liquors). Rinse a chilled cocktail glass with the absinthe and strain mixture into glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
3. The classic Blood and Sand is an odd combination of Scotch, sweet vermouth, blood-orange juice, and cherry brandy. The smoky flavors of the Scotch are complemented by the sweetness of the orange juice, while the vermouth fills out the midpalate. Named after Rudolph Valentino’s bullfighter movie of the same name, this drink will readily defeat any winter evening.
Blood and Sand Recipe
¾ oz. scotch whiskey
¾ oz. sweet vermouth
¾ oz. Cherry Heering
¾ oz. fresh orange juice (blood orange if possible)
Shake over ice cubes, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with a flamed orange peel.
4. Finally, there’s the Calvados Cocktail, blending Calvados brandy, orange juice, Cointreau liqueur, and orange bitters. It gets chilled and served straight up. The warming caramel-apple flavors play off of the sweet orange ones. The bartender will be happy to knock the dust off of that same bottle of Calvados that’s inventoried every month—and you’ll be wondering why no one got you into this drink in college.
Calvados Cocktail Recipe
1 ½ oz Calvados brandy
1 ½ oz orange juice
¾ oz cointreau
3 dashes orange bitters
Combine ingredients over ice and stir. Strain and serve in a chilled cocktail glass.
