These are difficult times. Political, financial, humanitarian, and weather-related crises abound. Privacy breaches and terror attacks (both domestic and foreign) are the new normal, as is misogyny, bullying, proselytizing, and downright lying. It can be tough to cope; and increasingly hard to bear. Luckily, the Mixing Master has a cocktail for that.
Ingredients:
In a mixing glass, combine ice, gin, vermouths, and lime juice. Shake. Serve in a cocktail or rocks glass.
Notes:
Periodically, in Caulkins’ recipes, the instructions don’t include straining the drink. I’m still not sure if this omission is inadvertent or intentional. But, Fizzy Cocktail’s mission is to build ’em as close to written as possible, so the bear remains unstrained! That said, my ice is more ‘crushed’ than shaved, so a fair bit was left after shaking.
This is not a sweet cocktail. It’s sharp, it’s bitey. It’s. . .well, it’s sort of like a pissed off bear. Growly and in your face. One who’s not grinning and, ummm, you know. . . (welcome to the Fizzy Cocktail cliché festival).
The gin and two vermouths pack a decent — and fairly dry — punch; while the lime provides a bit of tingle and tang at the finish.
Interestingly, sipping this cocktail as the ice continued to melt allowed the flavors to just begin to lose their sharpness. But rather than feeling diluted, the drink became a little smoother, rounder, and ultimately tasted — to me — fuller and more comprehensive. Hmmmm. Patience and perseverance. Or dare I say, Persistence (nevertheless)?
Shake, serve, sip, grin. . .and bear it.