Totally agree…the sweetness is a blend of liquors. Not sure if race back to make it again. If so, I will modify also

Didn’t have applejack so used 20 ml of brandy and about 15ml of fresh apple cider - delicious 😋

Whoa! This one sure does pack a punch! Fiery ginger, smokey mezcal, Campari bitterness, yet fresh. I do realise I’ve just more or less have listed the ingredients, but it’s one thing reading them and a wholly different thing tasting them together. With all the big flavours the Campari somehow becomes a supporting act for the ginger and the mezcal. The combination works really well, but it’s not for everyone.

very much a hit with my family (with a pomegranate juice hack of using grenadine + lemon juice as a substitute)

Sounds like a “perfect”Manhattan to me…

I made this with the Yuzu version of Pierre Ferrand Curaçao, which has become available in London. It has more presence.

you can fat wash the rum with regular or browned butter, it's really easy and quick and the flavourful rum has an amazing mouthfeel plus the cocktail then has almost zero grease

a piña colada on the beach come on man you can't deny that

A simple and worthwhile pleasure.
Clean and clear when cold, it looks pleasingly green with a slice of lime.
I can almost taste chocolate with all the herbs.

Seeing as it is almost XMAS, I thought a cocktail utilizing grenadine was in order seeing as pomegranates for me are a lovely festive Christmas fruit given its vibrant red colour and winter availability. I was somewhat surprised then, that this delicious cocktail hasn't made it to Difford's top XMAS cocktail list! Perfect sweet / sour balance for me using the given ratios, available lemons, and homemade grenadine.

congrats Ralitsa, interesting garnish, very Christmassy so will definitely try that!

Congrats Florian sometimes simple is best and this works a treat 👏🏼 very well done sir.

agreed! Well worth the honourable mention, very very tasty. Well done.

Interestingly I almost taste notes of chocolate and raspberries with this drink. I used Old Foresters 100 proof.

outstanding

I tried the drink with the 12.5ml of simple but it was too dry for my liking. I found it much better with the original 3/4oz of simple; in my case I use 2:1 simple.

60 ml of lime juice is WAY too much. 30 ml is enough.

Nice warmer and subtler version of a Negroni, get more of that Campari citrus flavor without the gin competing.

Even though this was an "honorable mention" in the competition, it was my favorite. And what beautiful (and appropriate) prose for the "meaning" of the creation. I used agave syrup instead of honey syrup.

Does exactly what it says on the tin - a martini that tastes like gingerbread. A great Christmas cocktail and a real crowd pleaser

Wow, and wow again. Just made this with a new bottle of Mezcal Verde Amaras (bit more delicate than my last Del Maquey). Also, I skipped the egg white - hey, it’s a margarita… Sublime. New entry into my top five. Thanks Simon.

Thanks, Melissa. I agree re volume and I'll revisit this recipe.

Ooh, this is a great Xmas drink - all berries and marzipan flavours. I've just decanted off this year's sloe gin especially to make it (we had an incredible crop of blackthorn fruit in Cumbria, UK, this year).

The glass is a Riedel Nick & Nora.