Stir with ice, strain into a cocktail coupe, and garnish with a cherry.
A few people wrote down the first iteration of this recipe before I changed it on Instagram a day later, and they rather enjoy it. So I figured that I would include my first experiment. I am much happier with the second / the Cynar version of the Pinball Racket though, but your mileage may vary.
The Pinball Racket (Version 1)
• 1 1/2 oz Rye Whiskey
• 1/2 oz Mezcal
• 3/4 oz Campari
• 1/4 oz Maraschino Liqueur
• 2 dash Mole Bitters
Stir with ice, strain into a cocktail coupe, and garnish with a cherry.
In early 2020, I was inspired by the rye-mezcal drink that I just had in New York City as well as others like the Racketeer (already on Kindred Cocktails). I began tinkering, and after a few iterations over the course of two nights, I picked my favorite (see the notes for the first iteration). For a name, I was inspired by the Racketeer which reminded me of something I found in my town's library's historic room: a folder on the Pinball Racket. This Winter Hill Gang ploy was to go into establishments and strong-arm offer to put a cigarette, candy, jukebox, or pinball machine in; moreover, they told the store and restaurant owners not to worry about its upkeep or finances. I learned a lot more about organized crime than I did about my intended goal, namely the rum distillery that existed in Somerville, MA, up until Prohibition.