Page 10 - July Hawaii Beverage Guide

L
last call
Bold Brandy
Dark liquor makes a summer splash
BY MEGHAN RILEY
SSummer cocktails, being light and fresh, tend
to rely on clear spirits and fruit flavors. However, with brown spirits hot, bartenders are also capitalizing on that trend, populating their summer menus with freshened-up versions of traditionally “heavier” cocktails.
Johnny Swet of The Skylark in NYC, for example, created The Stack, a spinoff of the Negroni, with equal parts bourbon,
apple brandy, vermouth, and Aperol. Swet claims The Stack
is “smooth and multi-layered in profile and incredibly balanced for such a potent cocktail.” The freshness and flavor comes from the apple brandy; paired with
the lavender and orange bitters, it “gives the cocktail some really nice summer notes,” making it a nice option for outdoor parties.
“I think The Stack pairs well with anything with big flavor, from BBQ to burgers,” he adds. ■
• The Stack
Ingredients:
.75 oz. Knob Creek Bourbon
.75 oz. Aperol
.75 oz. Carpano Antica
.75 oz. Laird’s Bonded Apple Brandy 2 Dashes Lavender Bitters
2 Dashes Orange Bitters
Method: Add all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir to temperature. Strain into a rocks glass over ice, and garnish with orange twist and lavender.
PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHEW PERRONE, FRONT OF HOUSE