Sharpie Mustache by Chris Elford

When asked, puzzle designer Felix Ure suggests that gin might be just the thing for this little puzzle flask. Here’s a modern classic gin cocktail that couldn’t be more perfect to accompany the Ure Hip-Flask. Born at New York’s famed bitter emporium Amor y Amargo, the “Sharpie Mustache” is famous for both how tasty it is and for how stylishly it is served, in a flask.

Bottled cocktails have been around since the golden age of pre-prohibition cocktails, and can be found in the pages of Jerry Thomas’ “How to Mix Drinks” from 1927. Chris Elford channeled this history when he came up with his modern masterpiece at the bar circa 2011. The idea to serve it in a flask was a stroke of marketing genius that confers an element of naughty fun to the experience.

Too many of these and you might end up with one

Of course, the drink can be poured out of the flask, and onto a nice ice cube in a rocks glass, but where’s the fun in that? If you’re going to drink it straight from the flask, though, don’t forget to add some cold water for dilution, which is typically achieved when a drink is stirred with ice before serving. It’s an important step for most drinks. The drink is a Negroni variation, based with gin like a true Negroni, so you know it’s already going to be good. It uses Meletti amaro, famous for its saffron notes, in place of Campari, and adds a second base of rye whiskey (making it a particularly potent drink). Finally, there is Bonal, a quinine heavy bitter aperitif wine. Tying it all together are “tiki” bitters, with subtle flavors of cinnamon and spice. It’s a wonderful drink and dangerously drinkable. In fact, Elford relates how he came up with the name, imagining that having one too many of these drinks while out with friends might end with you waking up sporting some permanent marker on your face. Remind me not to hang out with him! Cheers.

Flask appeal

Sharpie Mustache by Chris Elford

20 ml Amaro Meletti

20 ml Bonal Gentiane-Quina

20 ml London dry gin

20 ml rye whiskey 

20 ml water

1 dash of Bittermen’s tiki bitters

Add ingredients to 100ml flask or bottle. Chill and serve with a twist.