Charlie Chaplain

I've been looking forward to doing this cocktail ever since I had apricot brandy and sloe gin on my bar. That's been a long time. But you have to be in the right mood for such a sweet cocktail. Then I was nervous that an ounce and a half of lemon juice would turn it into an extremely tart drink to give you heartburn.

I was glad that my fears were unfounded. That on a night when you want a lot of rich brandy and sugary gin flavors, the lemon juice is just enough to cut through and give you a hefty portion.

The drink is named after the famous film star, of course, which makes me wonder. Did Chaplain like sloe gin and apricot brandy? But he's associated with modernity, as are these two spirits, the combination of which evokes black and white film and urban bar scenes in Europe where such a cocktail would be enjoyed. This is still a hearty pour. You'll need a lot of each ingredient or a friend to help you get this one down.

• 2 oz. apricot brandy
• 2 oz. sloe gin
• 1 1/2 oz. lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled (double) Old Fashioned glass full of fresh ice. 

Post-Modern Lemonade

This "lemonade" drink (I use quotes because it is pretty much like calling a Long Island Iced Tea a "tea" drink) is the cocktail equivalent to Picasso's Guernica. Its a modern masterpiece with so much texture, a collage of flavors from different countries. It is called Post-Modern because, like the literature and art categorized in this period, it represents a blend of nationalities and a multiplicity of points of view. Were Picasso to paint this drink, you would see it repeated in various perspectives and colors.

Sloe gin, a British country spirit, adds sweetness, while slivovitz is a plum brandy from the Czech Republic. Aquavit (or akvavit) is a gin-like spirit made from cumin, coriander and fennel. This is the akvavit kit from Osterlenkryddors that I made a few weeks ago. It stands out under all the liqueurs and brandies, not to mention lemonade, in this cocktail. Then there's dry sherry, the fruity fortified wine of Spain that goes well with citrus juice. All of these come together in a sparkling lemonade, the fizz lifting some flavors to the forefront while you sip. It took a while to acquire all these ingredients, but this drink was well worth the effort.

• 2 oz. sloe gin
• 2 oz. dry sherry 
• 1 tbsp. slivovitz 
• 1 oz. aquavit
• 3 oz. lemon juice
• 1 oz. simple syrup
• sparkling water
• lemon twist

Combine all ingredients except sparkling water and lemon twist in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a Collins glass full of fresh ice. Top with sparkling water and garnish with the twist. 

New World

Something about American whiskey, pomegranate syrup and lime juice makes this drink about the American continents. It does look very modern, not a port cocktail or rum flip, but a lime sour with a ton of tartness and oak.

• 3 oz. American whiskey (Jim Beam used)
• 1 oz. lime juice
• 2 tsp. grenadine
• lime twist

Shake all liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with twist.