phoenix down

2 oz Applejack (Laird's Bonded)
3/8 oz Honey Syrup (3/4 oz)
3/8 oz Ginger Syrup (3 thin slice Ginger)
3/4 oz Lemon Juice

Shake with ice (muddle ginger slices in the honey syrup, add the rest, and shake with ice), and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a spritz of absinthe (St. George) and candied ginger on a pick (omit).Two Sundays ago, I reached for Eric Alperin's Unvarnished book and headed to the recipe section in the middle. There, I was tempted by a house recipe, namely Daniel Eun's apple brandy riff on Sam Ross' Pencillin using absinthe as the floater instead of a smoky spirit. Eun's Phoenix Down began with an anise and licorice nose. Next, lemon and honey on the sip slid into apple and ginger on the swallow.