The Full Windsor by Erick Castro

Let’s retire to the castle salon now and sit by the fireside while we enjoy a fitting toast to these fine castles. This drink is from Erick Castro, proprietor of one of my favorite bars in the world, San Diego’s Polite Provisions. It’s named after one of the most iconic necktie knots, the “Full Windsor”, which is itself named after the Duke of Windsor, whose title refers to the Castle itself (also no stranger to turrets). The drink is Castro’s delicious riff on the New Orleans classic Vieux Carre, a cocktail that features rye, cognac, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, and both Angostura and Peychaud’s bitters. 

An incredible Vieux

Interestingly, the drink was invented in 1930, the same year the Duke of Windsor brought his sartorial sensibilities to American collared shirts. Castro swaps the rye for a lightly peated Scotch, and the cognac for applejack, a classic American elixir made from apples and originally distilled by process of “jacking” – freezing fermented apple cider and then removing the ice, thereby increasing the final alcohol content. The drink is a beautiful adaptation full of crisp fruit flavors and a pleasing hint of smokiness. Try one next time you entertain the Duke. Class dismissed – cheers!

Windsor Castle

The Full Windsor by Erick Castle

1 oz Scotch

1 oz applejack

¾ oz sweet vermouth

¼ oz Bénédictine

2 dashes Angostura bitters

2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters

Stir ingredient with ice and strain into a favorite glass. Orange twist garnish.

Read about all the puzzles from the Summer at Berkeley Series: