Cardinal
Let the following be known:

  1. This is all AE’s fault
  2. This drink is horrible. Do not attempt at home.
  3. It looks worse in person. It tastes much worse.

Ok, now that we have the warnings out of the way, allow me to present:

Cardinal

  • 2 oz white rum
  • 1 oz lime juice
  • 1/2 oz amaretto
  • 1/2 oz triple sec
  • 1/2 tsp grenadine
  • slice of lime

Combine all liquid ingredients and shake over ice. Pour into old-fashioned glass and garnish with lime slice.

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Golden Dawn

I recently acquired some apricot brandy and have been on the lookout for cocktails that used it. The first few attempts haven’t been worth the time but the Golden Dawn is kind of fun. Most recipes call for Calvados (an apple brandy, of which I have no real substitutes) but it’s also sometimes made without. Given what I have on hand, I mucked about with it a bit and here’s how I’ve been serving them.

Golden Dawn

  • 3/4 oz gin
  • 1/2 oz apricot brandy
  • 1/2 oz orange juice
  • a dash or two of grenadine

Combine all ingredients except the grenadine and shake with ice. Pour into a cocktail glass and drop the grenadine in. It should sink to the bottom of the glass for nice sunrise effect.

Some folks garnish with an orange slice or cherry, but I prefer without. This is a simple drink, I’d love to try it with an apple brandy to see if it’s a little more complex and interesting, but as is it’s refreshing, sweet but not terribly so and visually kind of fun. Besides, it’s a rare excuse to use that homemade grenadine.

Stuffed MonkeyThis drink is worth making for its history alone. Still, we’ll start with the recipe and then move on from there.

The Monkey Gland

1 1/2oz (dry) gin
1 oz (freshly squeezed) orange juice
1/4 oz grenadine
1/4 oz Pernod

Shake over ice, strain into cocktail glass and serve with an orange twist. I’ve seen it made 1:1 gin:orange juice and served with no garnish, but if you’re getting the juice from an orange, you might as well use the peel.

As a quick aside, some folks substitute Benedictine instead of the Pernod (I think this was started when Absinthe fell out of favor).
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