Tackling a tricky pirate’s themed puzzle box takes fortitude and bravery. A little liquid courage like this cocktail might come in handy. It comes by way of New York bar industry legend Sother Teague, proprietor of the amaro emporium Amor y Amargo which labels itself as a “bitters tasting room”. Despite his love of all things bitter, and style of spirits only drinks at his bar (no juices or syrups to be found there), he is a brilliant drink maker of all genres. A brief stroll through his wonderful book, I’m Just Here for the Drinks, which he famously wrote in the notes app of his phone, will convince you of this fact.

One of those drinks was too good to pass up for this pairing, as we face the high seas and take the helm. Teague once told Punch he wanted to be a sailor, and that “I have a longing for the open sea”. When approached by Jägermeister to create a cocktail for the annual Tiki by the Sea event (held in Wildwood on the Jersey shore each year), he jumped at the chance. Jägermeister, despite the connotations it has inspired (and cultivated) through its US distribution, is nonetheless a classic German style amaro known as a kräuterlikör which can be appreciated as a challenging herbal liqueur. Teague paired the grapefruit, ginger and anise flavors present in Jägermeister and combined them with funky cachaca, ginger syrup, and Peychaud’s bitters for an exciting adventure on the high sea, which he assures will be, nonetheless, “smooth sailing”. Cheers!

Rough Seas by Sother Teague

1 oz cachaca

1 oz Jägermeister

¾ oz ginger syrup (I used ginger liqueur)

¾ oz orgeat

¾ oz lemon

Heavy dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters

Shake ingredients with pebble ice and strain into a glass full of more pebble ice. Paint the top with the Peychaud’s. Flaming lime husk (or “ships” lime wheel) optional.