Open and Shut

Julia Momose

Apr 27

For the libation to this lock, I’m keeping it simple. After all, this puzzling lock is fairly straightforward, just open it, then shut it again. We don’t need to belabor the point, the process to achieve that only entails a few simple details … ok, it’s incredibly difficult. What we need to do, instead, is enjoy this incredibly simple cocktail from Chicago based bartender Julia Momose. The drink recipe can be found in the pages of Kara Newman’s Nightcap, which should give you a hint as to when and how Julia envisions this drink be enjoyed. I found it equally soothing while failing to impress this stunning beauty with my charms – despite trying all my best lock pick up lines. Bahdum.

Julia’s cocktail is a Scaffa – that is, a drink served at room temperature, no ice, no dilution. Talk about simple! The Scaffa can be traced back to the birth of the cocktail, no surprise, when ice was a luxury not often available in bars. It was first mentioned, as the Brandy Scaffa, in Jerry Thomas’ (the “father of the cocktail”) Bartender’s Guide, 1862. Momose’s modern take on the format is essentially a punched up glass of amaro – in this case, Amaro Lucano, which is notably herbal, minty and has deep flavors of burnt orange and cola. The added cognac enriches the flavors without overpowering them and adds it own layers. It is indeed a soothing drink. Put simply, it’s good. Cheers!