Wednesday, February 19, 2014

rubberband man

1 oz Spiced Caña Brava Rum
1 oz Pierre Ferrand Cognac
1/2 oz Cardamaro
1 dash Benedictine
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube. Garnish with 2 cherries and flame an orange twist over the top.
Two Thursdays ago, I ventured down to Downtown Crossing after work to visit the Highball Lounge. There, I found a seat in front of bartender Shaher Misif and requested his tribute to The Spinners, the Rubberband Man. Once mixed, the cocktail provided an orange and herbal aroma that led into a dry grape sip. The swallow contained mostly Cognac flavors at first with a spice finish; later, the swallow had more rum notes with the ice melt dilution. Overall, it came across a bit more like an Old Fashioned given the spirits' heat than a Manhattan or a Vieux Carré variation that I first envisioned given the recipe.