Jersey Lightning

I'm not a big fan of this drink. It is another example of an apple brandy cocktail that is completely unbalanced with lime juice and no sugar. It's as if the bartender decided that apple brandy was sweet enough to handle two ounces of lime juice, which it is not.

I get where it is going, though. Lightning implies a shockingly tart drink, and this one is. Jersey is the home state of Laird's distillery. That was why I had to use the last of my Apple Jack 86 (100% apple brandy) for this cocktail. Punt E Mes blew the drink out in the other direction, adding so much earthy bitterness. I broke down and added a half teaspoon of sugar syrup because I just couldn't take it.

Here is the recipe as it is printed with notes to help fix the problems that this cocktail has.

• 2 oz. apple brandy (Laird's Apple Jack 86 used)
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth (Martini and Rossi recommended, but Punt E Mes used)
• 2 oz. lime juice (1/2 tsp. sugar syrup recommended for balance)

 Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.