Sharkbait’s Cocktail of the Week: Don’t Nobody Worry ‘Bout Me

To quote the beginning of Monty Python and the Holy Grail:

The credits have been completed
in an entirely different style at great
expense and at the last minute.

The credits being this post due to a last minute run down to FOB: Cape Cod to fix some lights in the back yard for the tenants. All would have been fine except for getting caught in some last minute traffic that delayed my return home. First world problems, I know compared to the rest of the nonsense happening around us, but I felt I should give context to the abruptness of this week’s post. It’s more of a lesson for me in that I need to start prepping these earlier in the week instead of waiting until the back half of the week to start.

Anyway

This week is a simple cocktail called All Right from the Waldorf Astoria book that according author Frank Caiafa “will definitely allow you to disconnect from the daily grind in a hurry”. I’m all for anything to escape the grind, especially on a summer Friday afternoon. This can be made two ways: one with gin, the other with rye. I’ve decided to make the rye version this week, and I’ll back burner the the gin variation, potentially for next week.

All Right (Tom Bullock Version)

2.25 oz. Rittenhouse Bonded Rye Whiskey (I used Sagamore double oak rye)

.75 oz Pierre Ferrand dry curacao (I subbed Cointreau)

2 dashes Angostura bitters

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass. Add ice and stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange peel.

The nose is heavy on the orange aroma. Given that the only other scent here is of rye, I’m not surprised the Cointreau and the orange garnish overshadow the double oak rye.

Well, Frank was right. This will definitely help you disconnect and decompress from a long work day/week. The sip is basically the inverse of the smell. The rye dominates up front, with hints of orange underneath adding a nice depth to this simple cocktail. With the rye taking center stage on the palate, it is definitely on the stronger side, and not one for those who aren’t fans of whiskey.

This reminds me of a drier Manhattan. Of which this essentially is, but with the orange liqueur added instead of the vermouth. The proportions are tiled slightly in favor of the rye, but I’m certainly not complaining about that ratio.

I liked this one a lot. It’s simple, flavorful and works very well, especially in a pinch if you’re out of sweet vermouth. Now shut down, call out the rest of the day, make this and enjoy your weekend!

(Banner image courtesy Matthew Tetrault Photography)