Snow Leopard's Tail

 

Story:

I'm posting this one a little early by request.  This drink was created by Anna Wallace and Joe Sundberg while they worked at The Walrus and The Carpenter in Seattle.  They originally named it the "Mustache Ride", but I'm not calling it that because: a) I'm not currently a resident of a bad college frat house; and b) there are at least three other drinks already called that.  The drink is a twist on the classic Lion's Tail, but I find this one reminds me a little more of winter.  Thus, it's the Snow Leopard's Tail.  The drink is sweetened with a spiced maple simple syrup. The allspice dram already adds complexity so you could probably get away with just a basic maple simple syrup, but I went for it.  This one is incredibly easy to drink, sweet with just a bit of a bitter Cynar tail.  A snow leopard's tail.

Recipe:

1.5 oz bourbon
0.5 oz Cynar
0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz Joey Sunshine's Maple Simple Syrup (below)

0.5 oz St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram

-add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice; shake until chilled
-strain into chilled double old fashioned glass over fresh ice

-garnish with lemon twist and a cocktail cherry

Joey Sunshine's Maple Simple Syrup:

2 cups grade A dark maple syrup (used to be called grade B maple syrup)

1 cup water
0.5 Tbsp black peppercorns
0.5 Tbsp fennel seeds

0.5 Tbsp cloves

0.5 Tbsp allspice berries
0.5 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1 star anise pod

1 bay leaf

-combine all ingredients in a medium pan over medium heat.
-bring to simmer, stirring occasionally.  When liquid boils, remove from heat.

-Cool completely.  Strain out solids.  Store in a glass jar in the fridge for up to a month.