The Dapper Dead

What shall we drink on this chilly October evening? Ghouls, ghosts, and ghastly gentlemen alike all have one thing in common - they all love a stiff drink. "Stiff" as in, dead guy, get it? Ok, ok, groans are good on Halloween, right? One thing we can all agree on is that Halloween is the perfect time for some liquid adult treats, and luckily I've got just the trick up my sleeve.

The classic Boulevardier cocktail, named after the very much alive bon vivants and stylish gentlemen who strolled the Parisian boulevards in the nineteen-twenties, was created by Erskin Gwynn, who wrote a magazine of that same name for American expats. 

Perfect for a stroll down the boulevard ... in the underworld

I’ve created a delicious autumnal variation of the Boulevardier featuring applejack, one of the earliest spirits in America. George Washington's troops were given rations of the stuff - you might even say it's so old, it's revolutionary! Mixed with a sweet vermouth (such as the delightfully named “D’ Sange” from Momenpop) and some Campari, the resulting drink would look perfect in the hand of the most stylish of spooks, and tastes so good you'll need to fend off those fiends who want a sip. What the hell, just mix one up for them too.

Happy Halloween!

There's no escaping how good this pair is

The Dapper Dead

1 oz Laird’s Applejack

1 oz sweet vermouth

1 oz Campari

2 dashes Bittermen’s Hellfire Bitters

Stir ingredients over ice and strain into an eyeball glass. I mean, a highball glass. Garnish with a set of citrus peel fangs frozen inside a clear ice cube. Cheers!

For more Halloween hijinks see: