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Lion's Tail

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (192)
Lion's Tail image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
2 fl oz Bourbon whiskey
1/3 fl oz St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram liqueur
1/2 fl oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
1/6 fl oz Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water) 65.0°Brix
1 dash Angostura Aromatic Bitters

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

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How to make

Glassware

Serve in a Coupe glass

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of lime zest twist.

Method

  1. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  2. STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

  1. Express lime zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Lion's Tail contains 206 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.7 standard drinks
  • 23.93% alc./vol. (47.87° proof)
  • 23.2 grams of pure alcohol

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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History

Adapted from a recipe that first appeared in William James "Billy" Tarling's Café Royal Cocktail Book, published in London in 1937. However, the drinks creator is likely to have been an American bartender driven to London by Prohibition. "Twisting the lion's tail" was an American slang expression for provoking the British which emerged during the period of American Anglophobia between the World Wars.

LION'S TAIL
Invented by L. A. Clarke
2/3 Seagram's Bourbon Whisky.
1/6 Pimento Liqueur.
1/6 fresh Lime Juice.
Teaspoonful Gomme Syrup.
Dash Angostura Bitters.
Shake.

William James Tarling, 1937

Review

A heavily allspice dram liqueur influenced, Daiquiri-like, bourbon-based cocktail.

Variations/similar cocktails

Tarling's Red Lion

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$3.21 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 6 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

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* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

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Comments & Discussion

Loz Horner
We made this on a hot summer day which I realise is odd but I promised the nice man in The Whisky Exchange it would be the first cocktail I made with my bottle of Pimento Dram. It’s a very nice cocktail. Spice, Bourbon and Bitters nicely balanced. As some have said, it’s more reminiscent of a rum cocktail. We will revisit when the nights get longer.
score: 2
Jordi Reig
A wonderful cocktail! We discovered it thanks to some customers who ordered it, and we definitely found the recipe in the Diffords guide. It looks like a Sour, but much spicier. Perfect for an afternoon by the fireplace. 🍸🔥
score: 3
Laurie Cavanaugh
Used cardamom bitters in place of angostura, but otherwise made exactly as written.Delicious! But as someone else already commented, it was gone too soon.
score: 1
Susan Williams
The full 1/2 oz of lime was too sour for my taste. Next time I’ll cut that by half. I like the bourbon - allspice - angostura blend.
score: 2
Susan Williams
Twist the Lion’s Tail: 2 oz Bourbon, 1/2 oz Allspice Dram, 1/2 oz Averna Amaro, 1/2 oz Lemon Juice. Shaken with ice. Added a dried Orange slice. Spicy, autumnal, not as sour and didn’t need the sugar syrup.
score: 4
John CARR Premium Member
Like a rum-based drink without the … rum 😉. Fresh, fruity, but with plenty of depth as well. Disappeared in a few sips, as the best cocktails should. Perfectly balanced and delicious. Will def make again. Makers 46, bitter truth pimento dram, angostura bitters.
score: 4
Chris Brislawn
Here's a vote for garnishing with a dusting of nutmeg in addition to a lime twist. I also added a good dash of homemade unsweetened pimento dram to reinforce the St. Elizabeth's. A nice use of allspice dram in a bourbon drink.
score: 3
Mike Beatty
Mustache Ride (from Amaro) reduce bourbon to 1.5 and add 0.5 of Cynar; flop lime for lemon.
score: 1
Calvin Grant Premium Member
It's so...all spicey! With a lot of other good flavours. Made it with a bottled in bond strength bourbon. Not too sweet. Improves as it airs and warms. As per previous posts must try musgovado syrup and nutmeg garnish. It got a heart.
score: 4

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Difford’s Shop logo
$3.21 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 6 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

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