Dempsey

I wish I knew who this drink is named after; there's conjecture it is named after boxer Jack Dempsey. It's a boozy drink with a strong absinthe flavor despite the small proportion of it. Grenadine makes for a soft rouge color and keeps the drink from getting too dry. I used Bluecoat Barrel Aged Reserve gin for this recipe because the oak and vanilla flavor would play well with apple brandy. That was a very good move. Usually apple brandy and gin don't go together easily: the apple brandy loses its color, the gin covers softer notes in the apple brandy. With Barrel Reserve, the drink was spicy--in a good way--and the gin contributed without standing out too much. I shudder to think how it would have tasted with a cheap London dry style gin.

• 2 oz. gin (Bluecoat Barrel Reserve used)
• 1 oz. apple brandy
• 1 tsp. grenadine
• 1 tsp absinthe or Pernod

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