willie lee

1 1/2 oz Rittenhouse Bonded Rye Whiskey
1/2 oz Mezcal (Del Maguey Vida)
1/2 oz Aquavit (Linie)
3/8 oz Demerara Syrup
1/8 oz Maraschino Liqueur (Luxardo)
1 dash Angostura Bitters
1 dash Mole Bitters (Bittermens)

Stir with ice and strain into a heavy absinthe-rinsed (Kübler) old fashioned glass.Two Tuesdays ago, I was writing up the tequila-aquavit Enemy Lines, and I thought about how well aquavit, mezcal, and rye work in duos in various cocktails. Therefore, why not throw all three in together akin to Death & Co.'s Conference? The format I took that evening was a three spirit Improved Cocktail riff that I dubbed Willie Lee after the character from Johnny Cash's "Cocaine Blues" song. Once assembled, the Willie Lee stepped up with anise, vegetal, and caraway aromas. Next, a semi-sweet sip retreated to rye, agave, caraway, nutty cherry, and smoke flavors on the swallow.