Autumn Smash Cocktail
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It’s cocktail time folks! I’m not much of a bartender but quickly became in the mood to tinker when I saw this recipe on Tasting Table, the flavors sounded right with dark rum, apple cider and ginger beer for a tasty fall cocktail. However it also had Amaro listed, a type of italian liqueur. I did a bit of research and found that one, it is expensive, and two, it is in the Cynar family of digestifs. I don’t know if you’re familiar with Cynar, but we once had a bottle of that stuff for some crazy concoction, and it is something to fear, it tastes just horrible, artichoke liqueur no less. So I worked on this recipe to find a nice balance of the sweet, bitter and spices. I read that Nonino Amaro has the flavor of orange bitter and caramel, so I improvised with an orange liqueur and caramel liqueur in its place. It came out really delicious. For me to make a cocktail with more than 3 ingredients is a pretty elaborate endeavor, but I felt good about all the ingredients knowing they can work together for other drinks, like a Dark & Stormy or maybe a hot cider with Caramel Liqueur? The rain has started in Portland with longer-darker-rainier nights ahead, so fireside cocktails sound about right, I may take another stab at this mixologist thing yet! Cheers!
Autumn Smash Cocktail
(adapted from Tasting Table)
- 2 oz dark rum (Gosling’s Black Seal rum recommended)
- 2 oz apple cider
- 1/2 oz orange liqueur
- 1/2 oz toasted caramel liqueur
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 4 dashes orange bitters
- Ginger Beer
(makes 2 cocktails)
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, combine all ingredients (except the ginger beer) and give a few good shakes, strain into cocktail glass and top with a small splash of ginger beer. Garnish with apple slice or lemon twist.
