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Haystack Cocktail
A zesty, bittersweet and sweet 'n' sour aperitivo to make you salivate. John didn't specify a garnish, and although a dried apricot doesn't particularly...
Jacques Gaudin
28th September 2025 at 00:22
This one requires precision. Whilst the haystack effect is definitely there, it's a bit of a niche flavour. Not a crowd pleaser but I personally liked it for its uniqueness.
2nd August 2025 at 16:14
God yes. Dial down the suze and dial up the apricot brandy. It’s astringent. But good.
19th December 2025 at 01:26
Try it at 1.5oz 100 Proof Bourbon, .75oz Apricot Brandy, .75oz Suze, .5oz lemon juice.
29th July 2025 at 15:25
Yes, I did stir and serve on a Rock. Found this one tricky to balance, ended up adding a touch more apricot liqueur (what a sacrifice) and bourbon to roughly 40ml. No apricot garnish to hand so used a Cara orange wheel (kind of half way to a blood Orange) and was very happy. Ultimately inspired by Last Word but nothing like it. The Suze takes it vaguely in the direction of a white negroni - a white boulevardier?!? Very delicious either way.
2nd August 2025 at 15:50
Retried: shook and served on a Rock. Delicious and highly moreish. Could easily sink a couple in a row. Keep ‘em wanting more.
26th June 2025 at 16:42
Tried this cocktail stirred (I know ...) and found the Suze a bit too dominant. Next time I will try to balance it better in relations to bourbon. Simon's idea to serve it on the rocks might be perfect.
29th July 2025 at 15:26
Yeah I bumped up both bourbon and apricot.
27th May 2025 at 04:51
I used Salers which definitely brought this cocktail down to earth.
12th January 2024 at 02:54
Excellent and complex, we really like it. I use a full 1 measure of the Suze. Cheers!
24th April 2025 at 19:59
And now, with a little passage of time, I think the slightly less than 1 part Suze works better. Once again, Simon proves correct!
23rd August 2023 at 23:01
Really nice drink. I was tired after a long drive so I made this on the rocks in a 2:1:1:1 ratio (bourbon being 2) direct in the glass with big ice and stirred. Lovely. Quite sour in this ratio but both apricot and gentian are noticeable in the mix. A keeper.
26th October 2022 at 01:02
Tastes great with Salers. Think I'll bump it back up to 30ml next time. Also try a dusting of nutmeg.
23rd July 2025 at 00:35
Out of bourbon, only 18ml of JD; made up the difference with Laird's bottled in bond apple brandy. Not bad! (Salers 16%)
26th May 2022 at 03:24
I was 5ml's short on lemon juice and thought to add 5ml's of bottled yuzu. The Suze and Yuzu gave a flavor honestly identical to eating a raw habanero. Herbal, fruity, and floral. A beautiful accident I must say.
25th April 2022 at 15:41
Made this today but should have read the comments first. I found it too bitter but perhaps could try this again and reduce the Suze. Perhaps add a bit of sugar syrup
23rd November 2021 at 02:44
This cocktail is fantastic! I love Suze.
1st November 2021 at 14:27
I cut the suze from 30 to 15ml, perfect balanced with all flavours.
8th November 2021 at 18:41
I've just re-tried this cocktail and Suze is a huge part of its DNA and structure. Hence, such a large reduction in volume produces a quite different cocktail that deserves a new name. However, I have reduced Gentian a tad as hopefully will appeal to a wider audience.
13th August 2021 at 06:06
As a great lover of this cocktail I changed the Bourbon to Rye. Just for the fun of it. And whent from 3 cl to 4,5 cl. Then I cut the Gentian from 3 to 2 cl. It turned out realy lovely with a spicy kick from the Rye and with the Gentian stil present with intesity.
7th July 2021 at 22:38
I don't mind Suze, but I think next time I might cut it in half. Gentian goes well with bourbon though.
7th November 2020 at 17:25
Beautiful Cocktail. Just perfect in Sweetness
19th June 2020 at 07:37
hum, not fan of the taste of Gentiane. Maybe another cocktail would change my mind, as Apricot liqueur is not bad
19th June 2020 at 09:56
ah, I remember marmite and Vegemite in Australia .... Indeed, like we say in French; every taste is in the nature
19th June 2020 at 08:34
Gentiane is a flavour that's not for everybody. A bit like Marmite!