the happy fanny

1 1/2 oz Gosling's Rum
1/2 oz Green Chartreuse
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/4 oz Simple Syrup
1 barspoon Pernod Absinthe
2 dash Peychaud's Bitters

Shake with ice and strain into a Collins glass filled with fresh ice. Top off with soda water and garnish with a lime wedge and a straw.

On Tuesday night, Andrea and I attended the Pernod Absinthe Boston Bar Crawl. The only details we were provided were that the evening would start at Stoddard's Fine Food & Ale and that vintage 1930s limousines would take us to two other destinations. Well, Andrea and I did have a hint that we would probably end up at Russell House Tavern since we saw one of bartender Aaron Butler's tweets. Other notable attendees included Christine and Brayden of the Bostonist and DudeKicker and Lauren of DrinkBoston.

Jamie Walsh, Stoddard's head bartender, initiated the night of Pernod Absinthe imbibing with two classics -- the Sazerac and the Corpse Reviver #2. The third, the Happy Fanny, was a Stoddard's original. While the name sounded either obscene or at least a little cheeky (depending on whether you are British or American, respectively), the reality was a bit more tame. Apparently, it derived from a customer named Fanny who was overjoyed by this drink. Jamie based the recipe off of Ted Haigh's Modernista (which in turn was based off the Modern (or Modern Maid) Cocktail):

Modernista
• 2 oz Scotch
• 1/2 oz Dark Jamaican Rum
• 1 tsp Absinthe
• 1/2 oz Swedish Punsch
• 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
• 2 dash Orange Bitters
Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Add a lemon twist.

With changes in the base spirit, liqueur, citrus, and bitters as well as converting it into a tall drink, the Happy Fanny took on a rather new identity.
The Happy Fanny's nose was a combination of dark rum, green Chartreuse, and lime oil. The sip was delightfully crisp with a strong pairing of green Chartreuse and lime that was soothed by the richness of the dark rum. Moreover, the swallow had a decent degree of spice complexity from the Peychaud's Bitters, Chartreuse, and Pernod Absinthe. Overall, the Happy Family reminded me of a richer and spicier Popa Docquiri.
Our visit at Stoddard's ended with Jamie bringing out an Art Deco reproduction fountain for a round of traditional absinthe service. I believe the Boston Shaker store has the same fountain for sale along with a glassware, spoons, and sugar cubes. After a glass of happily louched goodness, it was time to venture outside and travel to our next destination.