Lost Key
In all honesty, absinthe is pretty new to me. Anise has been a flavor that has taken me some time to grow on me, but I am finally at a place where I enjoy the flavor in the right context. Needless to say, I was really excited when @absinthe_absente offered to send me a bottle!! After I enjoyed it on ice (I need to get an absinthe spoon…), I was determined to make a cocktail using more than just a rinse.
Given the potency of absinthe and its flavor profile, I went back to the philosophy of using other Big Spirits to help balance. What better way than with a Last Word template? The absinthe replaced the chartreuse; I kept the lime juice and maraschino, but instead of gin I went with a deliciously funky Jamaican rum. The ratios needed tweaked a little from equal parts, and the result is SO good. It’s funky and sweet and sour and has a noticeable anise presence that pairs beautifully with the cherry. Highly recommend giving this one a go.
Recipe
0.75oz Smith & Cross
0.5oz Absinthe (@absinthe_absente, gifted)
0.5oz Lime juice
0.66oz Maraschino liqueur
Shake all ingredients with ice until chilled. Strain into chilled coupe, garnish with a cherry. Cheers!!