The Recipe

  • ¾oz (22ml) Rye Whiskey
  • ¾oz (22ml) Yellow Chartreuse
  • ¾oz (22ml) Bénédictine
  • ¾oz (22ml) Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed

The Description

This cocktail was created in 2010 by Damon Dyer, a bartender at (the now defunct) Louis 649 in New York City.

Damon won the Bénédictine 500th Anniversary Cocktail Competition with this drink.

Preparation

This cocktail is a variant of The Last Word, the cocktail I showcased in my last cocktail post. Like The Last Word, this cocktail is an “equal parts” cocktail.

To prepare this drink, mix all of your ingredients in a shaking tin with ice and shake well for about 30-60 seconds. When finished, strain into either a chilled coupe or chilled Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

This drink is a recent addition to the recipe book and it’s an excellent one. The herbal notes of the Chartreuse and Bénédictine play well with the lemon juice and spice notes of the Rye. My choice for the latter is Rittenhouse 100 proof “Bottled-in-Bond“.

As can be seen in the photo above, I have a shameful admission to make. I tend to not chill my glasses, nor do I spend a lot of time with garnishes. I need to up my game in both of those areas. When a drink is served up, without ice, a chilled glass will keep the drink colder longer, which is especially good if it’s a high-proof “sipper” as this drink is. As for the garnish, a little lemon oil expressed across the top of the prepared drink would make for a pleasant addition and, finally, who doesn’t enjoy a fine presentation for their adult beverage of choice.

By Kenneth