Hello, and happy Friday once again. Hopefully you all survived your Thanksgiving (or for our Canadian friends, another boring Thursday). Now we are officially into the holiday season. This time of year usually means a lot of get-togethers. Usually these kinds of events (family commitments, office parties, friends holiday parties etc) require some sort of not so causal wear, all the way up to full suit or even a tuxedo. With that in mind, I figured I’d make myself a tuxedo to start off the event season. The way I figure it, if I’m going to be dressing up, I might as well dress up a cocktail. As per Jim Meehan’s PDT book, here is the Tuxedo. Hope it tastes as good as a tuxedo looks:

2 oz. Plymouth gin

1.5 oz. Dolin Dry Vermouth

.25 oz. Luxardo maraschino liqueur

2 Dashes orange bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled, Vieux Pontarliner Absinthe-rinsed coupe. Garnish with a lemon twist and a cherry

The gin is the first thing you notice upon taking a sip. Though it is the first taste, it doesn’t dominate. It quickly gives way to a vermouthy citrus combination, with an anise/licorice finish. That finish is a bit surprising to me. Sure, I’ve seen bartenders do rinses before pouring and serving before, but I guess I never thought how much actual flavor a simple swirl can add to a drink like this. Being able to fight through gin and vermouth is no easy task, and the anise did a remarkable job. Any more than what coated the glass would be too much and throw this wonderfully balanced drink all out of whack.

Speaking of offsetting the balance, you’ll notice the lack of a cherry garnish in the version I made. I opted to omit the cherry, as the only cherries I had on hand were Luxardo maraschino cherries. Since I already added the maraschino liqueur I thought that adding a maraschino cherry as well would add way too much sweetness into the equation. Based on the test versions I made, I think I made the right choice. Stick with a regular cherry if you so desire.

The tuxedo is definitely going to be added to my repertoire of cocktail staples. Just like its namesake, it’s not an every day drink, but when you find the right occasion, it’s a can’t miss.

(Banner image found here)