Cash and Prizes

Cash and Prizes by Nick Kokonis

To toast this marvelously beguiling Bandit I’m raising my free arm (the other is occupied by the bandit) with an usually lucky cocktail by Chicago bartender Nick Kokonis, who’s book Something & Tonic is a manifest to the simple pleasures of a tonic highball. Which is not to say his recipes are at all simple, and he also explores the fascinating history of the medicinal anti-malarial turned popular mixer.

cashing in on this prize

In his Cash and Prizes, he balances spicy rye whiskey with the lovely Lillet Rouge, an aperitif which tastes of dark fruits, ripe berries, vanilla and spices. They are a fantastic pairing on their own, but Kokolis blows this away with an entire bottle of the bracingly bitter minty cult classic amaro Underberg, which is sold in tiny 20 ml individual bottles. The amaro, which is technically known as a krauterlikor (in the same family as Jägermeister), is crafted from 43 regional herbs and spices using, as expected, a secret recipe. Finally, the cocktail is topped off with tonic for an effervescent lift. Cheers, and good luck!

hit the jackpot with this pair

Cash and Prizes by Nick Kokonis

1 ½ oz rye

1 ½ oz Lillet Rouge

1 bottle Underberg

Premium tonic, chilled

Pour first three ingredients into an old fashioned glass over ice and stir to chill. Top with the tonic. Lemon peel twist to extract oils over the glass.

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