armada

1 1/2 oz Bols Genever
1/2 oz Ransom Old Tom Gin
1/2 oz Lustau Don Nuño Dry Oloroso Sherry
1/4 oz Lustau Pedro Ximénez Sherry
1/4 oz Drambuie

Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with oil from a lemon twist.

For my second cocktail at Drink last Sunday, bartender Will Thompson suggested that I have a drink created by Misty Kalkofen with the unofficial title of "2 sherry, 2 gin." The actual name, the Armada, was most likely a reference to the Spanish Armada where the Spanish fleet sailed against England during the Anglo-Spanish War. This would explain the sherry, Old Tom (despite this one being made in the U.S.), and Drambuie, but what about the Genever? Well, part of the Armada's goal was to stop Queen Elizabeth I from supporting the Dutch revolt against the Spanish in the Netherlands. Indeed, sometimes the best history lessons are served in a cocktail glass.
The Armada's aroma was fresh lemon oil at first with raisiny Pedro Ximénez notes entering into the bouquet later. The sip was sweet and grape flavored with Ransom Old Tom's spice and the sherrys' nutty notes on the swallow. I was pretty impressed at how potent the Ransom was and how much flavor backbone it provided with only half an ounce. Overall, I have to agree with Will's assessment that this was definitely a Misty recipe especially with its balance and its use of sherry and Drambuie.