A brilliant cocktail. I think that it is much better using the Plymouth gin that Bernbach called for rather than a London dry. Can really taste the citrus and more subdued herbal notes as they mingle with the Chinato.
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Made this with the called for Meletti and feel that it works best here, particularly with the chocolate bitters. All of the substitutions with similarly less bitter amari add citrus elements whereas Meletti's caramel and saffron notes do not. Worth having a bottle of it in your bar if it's available locally in your area if for nothing else than making a proper Sharpie Mustache and specs like this one!
Nice riff on a Jack Rose. A bit less tart with the added orange juice. I used Mt Gay Black Barrel for the rum and the split base with applejack was very complementary.
Fascinating spec that has a very complex and delicious spiced pear taste. Great (and rare for me) use of batavia arrack where it harmonizes with the bitters/vermouths. Curious how it differs from Phil Ward's original spec but is excellent on its own merits. May try to make this equal parts plus the bitters and see how that compares.
Appreciate the reply, Simon. I think you meant bitters and not absinthe. The next most popular Google link for this cocktail doesn't mention the bitters so I appreciate the extra context directly from Phil. I love this site and have used it for years but I find myself searching the same drink elsewhere often to check if the original is less sweet, etc. Anyhow, don't want to clutter the comments too much. Again, appreciate the added context.
So am I missing something here? The mezcal is for rinsing the glass with the excess discarded?
I don't have those bitters (I have 40 others LOL) so I just added the mezcal into the drink. Worked well, but I love mezcal
Every time I read "adapted from" on here, especially when the spec is made by someone like Phil Ward, I really wish the original would at least get referenced in the description. From what I can tell, there are no bitters in Ward's original spec and he used a full tsp of mezcal instead of 1/2 of one as written here. It would increase the credibility (and utility) of this great website if readers could compare the adaptation with the original, imo.
I made this with an unsweetened cranberry cordial (25% ABV) instead of juice and some added rich simple. Love the deeper cranberry notes of the cordial and the added kick.