Partner in Crime

Partner in Crime by Will Lee

To celebrate the Domino box and all it represents I selected an appropriately named treat from Will Lee, one of Detroit, Michigan’s best known bartenders and the current beverage director at Grey Ghost. The cocktail was a collaborative effort between Lee and his bar manager at that time, who was “my right hand man … and one of my closest friends” – in other words, his partner in crime. From Lee: “The goal was to create a stirred, dessert style cocktail. Typically dessert cocktails lean towards the rich and decadent side, we were trying something a little bit different. The initial inspiration was a classic dessert, bananas foster. We wanted to take familiar flavors and deconstruct and present it in the format of a stirred, spirit forward dessert style cocktail.”

Like the best partners in crime, the spirits and flavors in this drink each play their part and hold up the rest for an incredible experience. A nicely smoky and bold scotch blend works well here to stand up to the sweet flavors, and the nutty amaro Averna adds decadent balance. Of course you might have a hard time resisting the whipped cream on top, but do try to enjoy at least one sip of the drink with some of it as well to get the whole experience. Cheers!

Scene of the crime

Partner in Crime by Will Lee

1 oz blended scotch

¾ oz banana liqueur

½ oz Averna

¼ oz amontillado sherry

2 dashes walnut bitters

2 dashes chocolate bitters

Garnish: cinnamon demerara whipped cream

Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a coup glass. Top with the whipped cream.

This pair is game