Left Hand

2 oz Bourbon, Elijah Craig
3⁄4 oz Sweet vermouth, Carpano Antica Formula
3⁄4 oz Campari
2 ds Bitters, Bittermens Xocolatl Mole
1   Maraschino cherry (as garnish)
Instructions
Stir, stain, straight up, cocktail glass, garnish
Notes
The original called for Bittermen's Sweet Chocolate bitters, a one-off bitters made by a measuring error when making their Mole bitters.
History
This recipe previously listed a variation using rye, regular sweet vermouth, and omitting the bitters. Corrected thanks to a comment by Campus Five.
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From other users
  • Beautiful color. Blood just starting to dry. Very inviting aroma. Spicy, and very old school. Ladies and gentlemen, Do not call. We have a winner! Best showcase for chocolate bitters yet! — ☆☆☆☆
  • Boy that cherry was good at the end. — ☆☆☆
  • Still says 2oz bourbon. Should be 1.5oz.
  • make with 1.5 oz bourbon — ☆☆☆☆
  • I made with coffee-infused Antica Formula. Nice, Campari comes out strong. I might reduce that to .5 oz. Also, I reduced bourbon to 1.5oz as suggested by other users. — ☆☆☆☆
  • Works better with Bitter Luxardo, rather than Campari. — ☆☆☆☆
  • We also make this one with a 2:1 ratio (1.5 oz bourbon), as recommended in the PDT. Garnish with a amarena cherry (Fabbri or Toschi), or a home-brandies version of same. — ☆☆☆☆☆
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4 Comments

The recipe as currently

Submitted by on

The recipe as currently listed is not the original, but rather an accidental variation by Damian Windsor (currently at Roger Room, Los Angeles) that I have posted on eGullet repeatedly.

The original is by Sam Ross (Milk and Honey, Little Branch, etc.).

1.5 oz Bourbon (Elijah Craig)
.75 oz Campari
.75 oz Carpano Antica
2 dashes Mole Bitters

Stir, strain, up, cherry.

This recipe was originally found on the Bitterman's website, but it's been removed.
It can be found in this book: http://books.google.com/books?id=hKgGjgbfhaUC&pg=PA76&lpg=PA76&dq=%22lef...
However, it lists Bitterman's Sweet Chocolate Bitters, instead of the Mole Bitters.

tophat665's picture

Wow! That's a perfect

Submitted by on

Wow! That's a perfect showcase for chocolate in bitters (I had to use Fee Bro's Aztec Chocolate, but that's close, nu? Same league if not the same ballpark.) Well played! 4 of 5, and 4.7 if there were 10th stars.