Prefer Elgar's proportions for uses other than pouring over pancakes:
2 oz rye (Rough Rider "The Big Stick")
3/4 oz vermouth (Tempus Fugit "Alessio")
1/4 oz Benedictine
~4 ml (~3/4 tsp) absinthe (to taste)
1 good dash each Peychaud's, Bitter Truth Creole Bitters
Stir w/ ice, serve in Old Fashioned glass w/ big ice cube for dilution, garnish w/ cherry. A more complex and interesting rye Manhattan, Louisiane style.

I do like this with a big ice cube too.

An interesting conversation here comparing the virtues of our host's recipe with that of commenter Elgar. In support of our host's position we say that context is all. In Louisiana, everything presses on the senses: the heat, the rain, the aroma of flowers, the greenery...and the pungent aroma and taste of the local cuisine (Gumbo, dirty rice, po boy sandwiches overflowing with shrimp). So who, sitting in a Bourbon Street bar over lunch, would prefer Mr Elgar's austere, lackluster recipe?

I think sitting in a bar off of Bourbon Street, perhaps Iberville Street, where there are fewer concoctions aimed at the spring break crowd, a person might prefer my more whiskey-forward version as being less austere, and less lackluster! But that's the great thing about cocktails. You can adjust them to your taste! I just happen to prefer more spirit-forward cocktails! I came across this drink first at the 21st Amendment Bar at La Louisiane. On Iberville Street.

Yes, we use Cocchi Dopo Teatro. To our taste their di Torino rosso vermouth is too light and vanilla for a La Louisiane. btw you'll have to go to page 2 of the comments to find Mr Elgar's recipe but it's still there.

I'm happy to hear that my recipe is still there. I do enjoy these conversations, even though I didn't notice this thread last year! Cheers!

Thanks, Richard. I wish I'd picked up on your recipe and the Mezcalita back in 2023. My recipe has the same alcohol strength, or even a little higher than yours, due to a lower proportion of orange juice, but fewer units of alcohol due to smaller measures. Your recipe has 90ml of 40% liquor, while I try to keep to 75ml max.

In all cases, it's a great drink! Cheers!

Looks good! Seems a little weaker than the one I submitted in 2023!! The salt seems appropriate, but I'm not sure it's needed if using Tajín.
https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/20117/mezcalita

I made this yesterday to mark the day the music died. I substituted applejack in place of the apple schnapps and Chateau Monet Framboise in place of the Myrtille. Bright and refreshing was the consensus. I think that a touch of demerara syrup or similar might make it more pie-like.

Hey Richard, just wanted to thank you for the Último Raúl. Made it again tonight and it was so good I had to add a plus to the five stars and a heart. Barsol Primero Quebranta complemented St. Germain and the Chartreuse. exceptionally. The limes were good as well.

Thanks Calvin! I was sad when Ruidiaz left the Sounders. I should really come up with another last word riff to celebrate the Leagues Cup victory over Inter Miami! Really glad you enjoyed the Último Raúl!

Due to issues copying or clicking on Richard’s link to his cocktail, please click on Richard’s name.
Then, on his profile page, click “View all recipes”.
The Ally Pally is on the 7th page.
Lots of other fun Richard Elgar cocktails to try. Many with accompanying video.

Thanks Simon, as always, for the kind words. Video to that one now uploaded!

Very minor point, but the artist that provided the inspiration for the name is Tricky, not Tricky Kid. Going to make this cocktail tonight, but probably won't end up naked and famous myself.

I agree with a number of others here - reducing the Suze a tad makes the drink more balanced. So the ration became 1 gin/ 1 Cocchi Americano/ .75 Suze. I had no grapefruit twist but a dash of grapefruit bitters spread over 4 cocktails worked well.

Whilst I've loved this over the years with Cocchi Americano, Beefeater, and Suze (and it's fantastic!) revisiting this with Lillet Blanc...aaah....it's perfect. By the way, have ya'''all tried the Five-Three-Five? Star.

Love the five three five! Such a great color too!

We tried this with applejack last night, and it was a success. The thin slice of (Cosmic Crisp in our case) apple really makes it.

Just tried it. A ray of sunshine in these days of evil presidentes. Thanks!

Glad you enjoyed it! The Clash also definitely helps in bad times.

I had this to celebrate the release of Should I Stay or Should I Go on September 17 1982 (due to it being my funeral song of choice, and also there is a song Death is a Star on the Combat Rock album). I enjoyed it as written. The star anise really gives it a lot of punch, and I also think it would be interesting with mezcal, or possibly cachaça instead of pisco. Minor point - with three ounces of spirits, I think a 10.5 oz glass might be a bit big!

I agree that this needs another ounce of bourbon. It then becomes a good cocktail to celebrate the founding of Rome on April 21.