little ronnie

1 oz Zacapa 23 Year Rum
1 oz Punt e Mes
1/2 oz Zwack (*)
1 barspoon Lemon Juice
1 pinch Salt

Stir with ice and strain into a rocks glass. Twist an orange peel over the top.
(*) Another amaro like Averna might sub well here.

For a second drink at Eastern Standard, I asked bartender Seth Freidus for the Little Ronnie. Seth explained that the drink was "a friend of Little Giuseppe" created by Eastern Standard's Kevin Martin. The original drink was developed in a game of bartender telephone between Stephen Cole of Chicago's Violet Hour who crafted the Bitter Giuseppe and Boston's Misty Kalkofen who developed the Little Giuseppe. Both Giuseppes are Cynar based with the Bitter using sweet vermouth and the Little using Punt e Mes. I felt silly after asking Seth who the Ronnie in question was; Seth explained that the 'Ron' was the rum in the drink. The previous variation of the Little Giuseppe I had was Tyler Wang's An Epic and A Limerick at No. 9 Park and that post also contains the recipe for the original Little Giuseppe.
The drink offered up an orange oil aroma that led into the grape and caramel sip. The swallow showcased the Zwack and Punt e Mes herbal notes and ended dry and clean. The salt definitely softened the drink and minimized the bitter elements. Finally, as the drink warmed up, the Zacapa rum notes began to play a larger role in the flavor profile.