detroit diamond

1/2 oz Gin (Anchor Junipero)
1/2 oz Green Chartreuse
1/2 oz Maraschino Liqueur (Luxardo)
1/2 oz Lime Juice

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail coupe with 2 oz dry sparkling wine (Willm Blanc de Blancs). Here, garnished with nothing but the beauty of my garden.

Two Wednesdays ago, I began thinking about how sparkling wine in Diamond Fizzes (Sours elongated by Champagne instead of soda water) such as the South Side Royale could change the balance of the regular drink (i.e.: the South Side) to a lighter one. The citrus-based classic that I honed in on was the Last Word and how that could use some softening. For a name, I paid homage to the Detroit Athletic Club where the drink was first recorded in 1916 with the name the Detroit Diamond; Urban Dictionary informed me that Detroit Diamonds are "broken glass from an automobile on the ground; usually from a theft" which seemed less regal but certainly fine by me. The end result was similar to Phil Ward's brandy and lemon Julien Sorel.
The Detroit Diamond presented itself with the intriguing interplay of nutty Maraschino with herbal aromas of Chartreuse and gin along with the Maraschino's fruit being modulated by the white grape nose. Next, a carbonated lime and light fruit notes from cherry and grape on the sip led into herbal and nutty elements on the swallow with a crisp wine finish. Definitely, the Detroit Diamond was less assertive than the Last Word and a lot better balanced especially for those whose palates are fatigued by Green Chartreuse burliness.