Fourth Regiment

 

Story

This drink is just a 50:50 Manhattan plus orange and celery bitters, but that small change makes all the difference.  In contrast with drinks like the Norwegian Wood, which present a fully combined flavor at the first sip, the Fourth Regiment unfolds gradually.  The initial citrus perfume gives way to the familiar bite of the Manhattan, but at the tail end the celery bitters clearly emerge.  The contrast is a delight.  The Fourth Regiment first appeared in an 1889 book called 282 Mixed Drinks from the Private Records of a Bartender of the Olden Days.  It subsequently appeared in other, better-known sources in 1914 and 1939.  Nobody knows where it got its name, but the recipe hasn’t changed much in over 130 years.

Recipe
1.5 oz rye (Rittenhouse)
1.5 oz sweet vermouth (Carpano Antica)
2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
2 dashes orange bitters
2 dashes celery bitters
-stir in a mixing glass with ice to chill
-strain into a chilled coup or Nick & Nora glass.  Garnish with lemon twist.

Norwegian Wood

 

Story

Those of you who have been to the Nordic countries may be familiar with aquavit (also spelled akavit).  It’s a traditional spirit made from grain or potatoes and flavored with herbs and spices, notably caraway and dill seed.  As a result, it’s a little more savory than many spirits. 

This cocktail was created by bartending legend JeffreyMorgenthaler when a liquor rep dared him to try and make a cocktail featuring aquavit, since it’s not known for its mixability.  After three or four tries, Morgenthaler cameup with the Norwegian Wood.  It’s both complex and balanced.  Interestingly, it’s tough to pick out the individual ingredients even though each has a distinct flavor.  It’s a bit spicy and has a lot of flavor.  Drink up, and say “Skål” (pronounced “skoal”) which is the Scandinavian equivalent of “Cheers!”.

Recipe

1 oz aquavit
1 oz applejack (Laird’s)
0.75 oz sweet vermouth
0.25 ox yellow chartreuse
1 dash Angostura bitters
-stir with ice to chill; strain into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass
- Garnish with lemon twist.

Busted Pipe

 

Story

Sometimes a weekly cocktail has a long list of ingredients (looking at you, Snow Leopard’s Tail).  Other times simplicity is the order of the day, as with the MonteCarlo.  The Busted Pipe is in the latter category.  With just two ingredients plus a citrus twist, it couldn’t be much simpler to make.  But despite the easy preparation, the busted pipe has more going on taste-wise than you’d expect. The Busted Pipe features Amaro Nonino Quintessentia which is an Italian herbal liqueur crafted by the Nonino family in 1933 and refined into its modern formulation in 1992.  It incorporates aged grappa (brandy made from grape parts left over from winemaking), which is unusual for an amaro, and is finished in oak barrels.  It’s famous as a key ingredient of the Paper Plane. This cocktail is great over a single large cube of ice, to be sipped as it evolves in the glass.

Recipe

1.5 oz bourbon
1.5 oz Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
Lemon twist
-build the drink in a rocks glass and stir to combine.
-add a large cube of ice and stir a few times.  Garnish with lemon twist.