The toast to this menacing box required something equally threatening and dangerous, hidden in a tranquil and smooth appearing package. I found what I was searching for in a drink from the team at the Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog, an Irish Pub like no other. Named World’s Best Bar twice over, the drinks created by their team of world class bartenders are reliably delicious. Despite their love of Irish whiskey, they have offered many scotch based cocktails in their lineup over the years. The “Bengali Menace” is one that appeals to the classic cocktail enthusiast, and is a variation on the white negroni. Bar Manager Jillian Vose explains that despite the menacing name, it’s not so scary.

The cocktail is based with Glendfiddich 12, an extremely affordable scotch for the quality. It is not overly complex and has typical Speyside character, with notes of fruit, such as apple, oak and vanilla, making it ideal for mixing in cocktails as well. Here it is paired both with the bitter and herbal French aperitif Suze, and the Italian aperitif Cocchi Americano. Apple liqueur and absinthe both bring out the apple flavors in the scotch, turning this potentially menacing drink into a deliciously sweet scotch negroni you’ll be happily growling about in no time. Cheers!

Bengali Menace by Jillian Vose / The Dead Rabbit

1 oz Glenfiddich 12

¾ oz Cocchi Americano

½ oz Suze

¾ oz apple liqueur

½ tsp cane syrup

3 dashes absinthe

Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a favorite glass with a large cube. Express lemon oil over the drink.

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