Old Hickory (Britten's recipe)

Review:

Heavy doses of Creole-style bitters and orange bitters work with dry vermouth to balance this drink's rich sweet vermouth base. A great aperitivo.

History:

Adapted from a 2017 recipe by Maxwell Britten at Maison Premiere, Brooklyn, NYC, USA. Britten's drink is riff from the Old Hickory cocktail in Stanley Clisby Arthur's 1937 Famous New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix 'Em.

'Old Hickory' was the nickname of Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the USA (1829 to 1837) and founder of the Democratic Party. Before becoming president, Jackson was a general in the U.S. army who, despite orders to the contrary, in 1812 led his soldiers on a long march from New Orleans to Nashville with a toughness of discipline and resolve that drove his men to start calling him Hickory, a name that stuck and later became Old Hickory. To quote Famous Old New Orleans Drinks, "When General Andrew Jackson was in New Orleans helping pirate Jean Lafitte win the Battle of New Orleans in the winter of 1814-15, this was his favourite tipple."

Old Hickory Cocktail
1 pony French vermouth
1 pony Italian vermouth
1 dash orange bitters
2 dashes Peychaud bitters
Pour the two vermouths into barglass, add the dash of orange bitters, the two shots of Peychaud bitters. Fill with cubes of ice and stir well. Strain into a serving glass. Twist a piece of lemon peel over then drop it into the glass.

According to hoary but unsubstantiated tradition, this was a favourite tipple of General Andrew Jackson when he was in New Orleans the winter of 1814-15 helping pirate Jean Laffite win the Battle of New Orleans. But we can promise this "Old Hickory" cocktail won't be as tough on your palate as was "Old Hickory" Jackson on the British that historic Eighth of January.

Stanley-Clisby-Arthur, 1938

Nutrition:

One serving of Old Hickory (Britten's recipe) contains 108 calories