Friday, November 13, 2020

base camp

1 1/2 oz Bourbon (Old Grand-Dad Bonded)
3/8 oz Laphroaig 10 Year Scotch
1/4 oz Creme de Cacao (Tempus Fugit)
1/4 oz Allspice Dram (Hamilton's)
2 dash Orange Bitters (Crude's Orange-Fig)

Stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass with ice, and garnish with an orange twist.
For a nightcap two Fridays ago, I turned to the November/December 2020 issue of Imbibe Magazine to make the Base Camp by Matty Clark of Dutch Kills in Queens. This smoky Old Fashioned utilized a crème de cacao and allspice dram duo as sweeteners, and those two paired rather well in drinks like the El Molino, Jamaican Bobsled, and Sierra Madre. Once prepared, the Base Camp climbed to the nose with bright orange oil over peat smoke and darker notes from the allspice and chocolate liqueurs. Next, a caramel and malt sip led into Bourbon, smoke, allspice, and chocolate flavors on the swallow.

5 comments:

Nicole said...

This goes down easy! Though I'm not 100% certain I measured 3/8ths properly. :-)

CocktailVirgin said...

Since it's a spirit, it isn't going to change the balance other than smokiness. Eye balling it between 1/4 & 1/2 is usually good enough and is what I did. For accuracy, 1/4 oz + a 1/8 oz barspoon, or 2 1/4 tsp.

Viscouse said...

I have to say, that was super flavorful and a welcome change of flavors. A theory I'm working on is (for me) I don't like creme de cacao in drinks. It somehow unsettles the whole thing. I really like the allspice/bourbon/Scotch. I wonder if I could sub it with something else. Amaretto's too vulgar. Drambuie? Barenjager maybe?

I also liked how it tasted vastly (to me) different at different points of dilution. Straight away it was too strong. A little later, smooth, composed, polite. A little later, the allspice stood out more.

Excellent find, friend.

CocktailVirgin said...

I would sub it for a coffee liqueur (which goes really well with allspice and the other ingredients).

What creme de cacao are you using? Many of the white ones can taste a little cheap. Tempus Fugit is legit although the drinks will look a bit murky.

Viscouse said...

Oooh, coffee liquor is an excellent idea, thank you!
I used Dekuyper cocoa, albiet not my favorite.