Front: 3oz of Apple Cider
Back: 1/2oz of Cynar
Thin slice of apple for a garnish
Pour all of the ingredients except the garnish into a cocktail shaker with ice, shake about 15 times, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Finally, add the apple slice for garnish. Feeling fancy? Use the apple slice to wet the rim of the cocktail glass before pouring the cocktail in, then turn it upside down onto a plate dusted with various fall spices (cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, ground cloves, brown sugar, etc.). This will rim the glass with accompanying flavors prior to pouring in the cocktail.
This drink was commissioned for the Brooklyn Public Library's 13th Annual gala event celebrating the magic of childhood. The vodka base is hidden by the dominance of the apple smell and sweet cider taste which is immediately replaced with the rounded bitterness of the Crynar (an artichoke flavored Amoro). Since Sesame Street is celebrating its 40th anniversary, I was looking for a cocktail where one ingredient was not like the others.
At first I played with creating a sesame flavored simple syrup, but upon talking to the event planner it was clear that it would be difficult to make such a syrup for the event since I do not have a commercial kitchen and there is no kitchen at the Brooklyn Public Library. In using the Cynar I intended to craft a cocktail that was at once familiar, seasonal, and local (hence the apple cider), and that leaves the drinker wondering what that closing flavor is... perhaps initiating another round?
I was also trying to be mindful that many guests probably do not drink cocktails like I do, and might want something fairly subtle and approachable. When playing with the ratios I added lemon juice at one point, as well as sweet vermouth (Formula Antiqua). Each added to the flavor but took away from the apple that I was going for in the beginning. It is called the Johnny Appleseed after all.
And a special thanks to all my tasters... you know who you are!
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