May Fair (Death & Co. Recipe)

 

This Vieux Carre adaptation is an intense dive into the world of herbal liquors. The original cocktail chef from Death & Co. explains that they tried to meld two different styles of aquavit--one that is traditional carraway and another that is more anise-forward. The idea is not only sound, but appropriate given the anise flavor that appears in many New Orleans cocktails like the Vieux Carre. 

I was fortunate to have two kinds of homemade aquavit with exactly these same characteristics. My Altungstad aquavit has a heap of anise along with its more traditional ingredients. The other is made with MurLarkey Divine Clarity Vodka and Justice White Whiskey and the normal mix of caraway, fennel, cumin and angelica seeds. It is interesting how different the two are and I was proud to feature them in this superb cocktail. 

• 1 oz. London dry gin (Bloom used)
• 1/2 oz. Krogstad aquavit (Homemade Altungstad used)
• 1/2 oz. Linie aquavit (Homemade traditional aquavit used)
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth (Cocchi Dopo Teatro used)
• 1/4 oz. Benedictine
• 2 dashes Peychauds bitters
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 orange twist

Combine liquid ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into an Old Fashioned glass with one large rock. Twist the orange zest over the drink and drop it in.