The Widow
This book inspired cocktail is an avant garde twist on the classic Old Fashioned. The base liquor and presentation are the same, rye whiskey (or bourbon) in a rocks glass with one large ice cube. The ancillary pieces are what give it the radical twist. I supplant the simple sweet note of granulated sugar or agave with the lush, floral St. Germaine. I add in the earthy richness of Amaro Montenegro to balance the sweetness. The black walnut bitters really places its stamp on the cocktail as the final and most effective note.
The book is indeed called The Widow, exquisitely written by Fiona Barton. There are so many layers to her story, so much complexity, and this is what I wanted to portray in my original cocktail. Read the book. Drink the cocktail.
How To Make
2.5 oz. Rye Whiskey
.5 oz. Amaro Montenegro
.25 oz. St. Germaine
3 dashes Black Walnut Bitters
Garnish with an orange peel.
Stir all ingredients, except the orange peel, in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Put one large ice cube in a rocks glass and pour contents into the glass. With a peel of orange, squeeze it over the glass to release some of the oils onto the drink, then place it in the glass as garnish.
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