Brooklyn Bridge

I recently had the opportunity to participate in a cocktail competition, having placed in the “finals” for the prestigious “home bartender of the year” award. I created many cocktails for the challenge, and paired up some of them with puzzle boxes too, as I am apt to do. More often than not for this blog I will take an old (or new) classic from the history books (or interwebs) to pair with a box, especially if something perfect already exists. But I don’t hesitate to make something new if need or mood move me to it. One of my favorite personal cocktail creations, the “Bon Iver”, was created to pair up with another Stickman, the “Traditional Box”. It’s still one of my favorite pairings of all time. So toasting this favorite Stickman box, the No. 2, with an original was an easy decision. The drink is one of my favorites from the cocktail competition, and the garnish I created for it was also the most complex. Somehow I found that all very fitting as a backdrop to this toast.

Fresh squeezed citrus, juice not included

The competition had a few broad requirements. Specifically, the drink had to include tequila, it had to include some bitter amaro, and it could not have any juice at all. The cocktail I created is a deconstructed Paloma, a classic Mexican cocktail made from tequila and grapefruit soda. I used a balance of light and strongly bitter citrus aperitifs with a sweet grapefruit vermouth to recreate the drink according to the rules. Since the bar that hosted the competition is located in Brooklyn, I envisioned the drink as a bridge from New York to Mexico. It’s a deliciously complex cocktail and an ideal toast for another historic Stickman Box. Cheers!

A Winning Pair

Brooklyn Bridge

2 oz Altos Reposado

¾ oz Mommenpop D’Pampe (or other grapefruit forward vermouth)

½ oz Cocchi Americano

¼ oz Bittermen’s Amere Nouvelle

1 dash Scrappy’s Lime Bitters

1 dash salt tincture

Stir ingredients together with ice and strain into a glass. Single cube, lemon twist.