Oom Paul

 

I'm so glad I chose this egg-shaped glass for this lovely aperitif cocktail. I had no idea that an Oom Paul was a style of smoking pipe: picture the curved bowl of Sherlock Holmes' pipe that he smokes while working a case. 

Applejack and Dubonnet Rouge are a perfect match and appear together in many cocktails. This drink really doubles down on that fact--highlighting the apple flavor of both spirits and accenting them with the cinnamon and clove of Angostura bitters. It is like drinking pie. Despite that, the drink isn't so much overly sweet as it is rich. Some of the earthy herbs of the Dubonnet still stick out, but for the most part the drink is balanced, dry and good for before or after dinner, perhaps while smoking pipe in your smoking jacket.

• 1 oz. applejack or calvados (Laird's Applejack 86 used)
• 1 oz. Dubonnet Rouge
• several dashes of Angostura bitters

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.