The Shift Drink
Posted by estiator at 10 October, at 07 : 52 AM Print
By DIMITRIOS ZAHARIADIS The Coctail Chemist
Autumn Spices to Warm the Spirit
In the northern half of the U.S., October is one of the most delightful times of year. New England’s foliage season is in high gear, there’s a nip in the air, and young families can be sighted picking apples and pumpkins. This a time for apples and apples and apples, and local farm stands offer a homegrown bounty that’s also great to use in cocktails.
October, of course, is also a month for comfort-inducing spices that fill our homes, restaurants, and watering holes with warmth and wonderful aromas. To mark the season, we’ve created a craft cocktail that hits all of Autumn’s best notes: cinnamon, apple, a touch of bitter, and a brush of lemon because, well, just because. (You can never go wrong with a bit of citrus.)
Rum is the center of attention here, and a quality spiced rum pairs exceptionally well with Roots Kanela, a delightful and playful cinnamon-spiked liqueur made by a Greek company that also produces a fine mastiha and raki.
And if craft cocktails were brought into vogue by millennials and Gen Zers, this is a beverage that even baby boomers will find welcoming, whether they’re spending a weekend peeking at the changing colors of the foliage or stopping in after a full day cleaning fallen leaves from their yards.
Cheers!
Dimitrios Zahariadis is the president of The Cocktail Chemist, a restaurant consulting firm specializing in beverages; co-founder of the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG) New Haven Chapter; and an award-winning bartender and pioneer in the craft cocktail movement in New England. He can be contacted at thecocktailchemist@hotmail.com.
That Time of Year
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Sailor Jerry Spiced rum (or similar spiced rum)
0.75 oz Roots Kanela, a cinnamon liqueur from Greece
0.75 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1.5 oz apple cider (if you can, try a farm stand version that’s fresh and robust for best results, but be aware that many are not pasteurized and can create a liability)
3 dashes Angostura Bitters
Directions:
Pour all ingredients into a mixing tin, and cap it. Shake vigorously. (Use the over-the- shoulder method to get some attention from your guests!) Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Add crushed ice to the top and garnish with a slice of local apple (any variety of your choice).
Glass: Collins glass
Garnish: Fresh slice of apple
