Lucien Gaudin

 

Story:

This vintage cocktail was created in Paris back in the 1920’s and named for a French fencer who won gold in both the 1924 and 1928 Olympics.  It’s a Negroni variant that’s both dry and bitter but somehow very refreshing. Because it’s almost 100 years old, people have thoughts about the way they like it best.  The original used 1 ½ oz of gin (3:1:1:1 ratio), but many sources back that down to 2:1:1:1.  I found the latter a little more balanced and less gin-forward, although both are good.  I’ve also seen people put it on the rocks, which I think might thin it out too much unless you drink it quickly.

Recipe:

1 oz London dry gin
0.5 oz Campari
0.5 oz Cointreau
0.5 oz dry vermouth
Garnish: orange twist
-stir in a mixing glass with ice until chilled
-Strain into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass.
-express orange twist over the drink.

Just The Paperwork

 

Just The Paperwork

That’s right, it’s another scaffa (a mixed drink served at room temperature).  This is the last one on my “must try” list, so if it’s not your bag, just hang in there.  Just The Paperwork contains three very diverse flavors but they’re all made from grapes.  The drink has a smooth caramel note from the cognac, plus a bittersweet herbal undercurrent from the amaro, accented with citrus.  Just The Paperwork was the go-to drink for the originator while he was closing the bar and doing the paperwork (Sother Teague again – the guy knows his way around an amaro).  I sometimes go into more detail here than on the printed recipe, but in this case I found a guy who has already done the work for me here.

Just The Paperwork
0.5 oz water
1 oz Cocchi Americano
1 oz cognac
1.5 oz Amaro Nonino
2 dashes (4 shakes) orange bitters
Garnish: orange twist
-build in a rocks glass and serve neat
-express orange twist over the drink.  Drop in.

Youthful Expression

 

Story:

Ramazzotti is a kola nut Amaro with dried fruit flavors that bring to mind Dr. Pepper.  When combined with the gin and bourbon, accented by the bitters, and topped with seltzer, you end up with a riff on a Cuba Libre (run, cola, lime).  The Youthful Expression is sort of a sophisticated rum and Coke for adults.  It’s not nearly as sweet, which is nice.  And the delightful flavors make it easy to forget that the drink packs a punch.

Pouring the seltzer down the spiral of a bar spoon isn’t required, but it does appear to force the carbonation to the bottom of the glass so you’re not left trying to vertically mix the seltzer with the rest of the drink.  Sother Teague shows the technique here at 1:40.

Recipe:

1 oz London Dry gin
1 oz Ramazzotti
1 oz bourbon
2 dashes (4 shakes) Bittercube Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters
Seltzer
-combine first four ingredients in a Collins or highball glass
-add ice and gently stir to chill
-top off with seltzer, pouring it down a bar spoon spiral if you have one.