Severus Snape
2 oz Bulleit Rye
1 oz Alessio Vermouth di Torino Rosso
1/4 oz Averna Amaro
1 bsp Dr. McGillicuddy’s Root Beer Liqueur
3 dashes Woodford Reserve Orange Bitters
rinse Lucid Absinthe
Rinse a Cocktail glass with Absinthe and chill. Stir remaining ingredients with ice and starin into the Absinthe rinsed Cocktail glass. From the originator: “OPTIONAL: spray a dash of Absinthe onto the drink with an atomizer to confuse the drinker as to what they are about to taste (stupify) as well as add a bit more herbaceous notes to the flavor profile”
I’ve been meaning to make this for a while and now that I have a bottle of Vermouth open it gives me a chance to use it. I did alter the drink a bit from the original, a bit for flavor, but much more for convenience. The original called for Bourbon (Old Grand Dad with the variation of Wild Turkey Rye as a sub) but I went with the mellower, but spicy Bulleit Rye.
The original also called for two different Sweet Vermouths (Dolin and Carpano Antica) but I doubled it up and only used the Alessio. I didn’t want to open a second bottle of Vermouth that I’d have to also use before it went sour and I really like the bitter sweetness of the Alessio anyway.
I also cheaped out and used the Dr. McGillicuddy instead of the lovely and rich ROOT from Art in the Age. ROOT is rare these days and I figured a barspoon’s worth would be easily interchangeable without any ill effects.
The drink itself is quite nice, though a bit ugly, but then Snape wasn’t known for his pretty looks. I imagine the change in Vermouth is the biggest flavor changer here as it seems to take the forefront. But I guess a harsh Grand Dad or Wild Turkey would have slapped that down a bit.
