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The Art of Choke

1 1⁄4 oz Cynar
1 oz Rum, Flor de Caña (4yr or other white rum)
1⁄4 oz Herbal liqueur, Green Chartreuse (Fat quarter)
1⁄8 oz Rich demerara syrup 2:1
1⁄8 oz Lime juice
1 ds Bitters, Angostura
2 spg Mint (one as garnish)
Instructions

Combine liquids in mixing glass, add mint and gently muddle. Let sit 1 min. Stir, then strain into rocks glass over large ice. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Cocktail summary
Created by
Kyle Davidson, The Violet Hour, Chicago
Year
2007
Is the
author's original creation
Curator
5 stars
User rating
4.5 stars
(62 ratings)
Yields Drink

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From other users
  • Solid. Made with resposado 4 year Flor De Cana. Mint plays an important role.
  • One of the best Cynar-fwd drinks I've had. Everything works well. A tad sweet? Perhaps .25+ rum?
  • Very Jager-esque w/ less sweetness and substantially more nuance; delicious and perfectly integrated drink
  • Skip the syrup. Used over-proof Wray and Nephew. Can taste everything now. — ★★★★★
  • So herbal, delicious
  • Used Rhum Agricole which had the unfortunate resulting taste of rubber tires. — ★★★★
  • I've had it both ways and I think I slightly prefer shaken. Both ways, though, a phenomenal cocktail.
  • I'm a big fan of bitter, but to me, the rum gets lost with these proportions. I bumped it up to 1.25 oz, and also increased the demerara syrup to 0.25 oz. Still quite herbal.
  • Did not get this drink at all.
  • Used mint bitters instead of mint (did ~½ dash mint and Angostura each). Excellent drink! Distinctly bitter and herbal. Maybe too sweet? Might slim (or skip?) the syrup next time.
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Comments
christina in tacoma commented on 9/14/2011:

I like this. I made it side by side with the Art of Choke since they look pretty similar and I wanted to compare. I prefer this rum choice ( I did sub Clement VSOP since I don't have- and have not tried- the Canne), and the slightly larger quantity of lime and syrup balances the bitterness of the Cynar more to my taste.

Dan commented on 9/16/2011:

This cocktail is so similar to the Art of Choke that I wonder if we need both. I tried it with Clement VSOP and like it, but found it too sweet as written. I have not tried Clement Premier Canne, but I wonder if an agricole with more hogo, like Rhum JM might give it added character.

christina in tacoma commented on 9/16/2011:

I think it would make sense to merge them with the quantity differences given as options, and a couple rum suggestions with notes on the different flavors they would contribute. In any case, that would help a rum newbie like myself. I need to check out this Rhum JM I keep seeing noted around here...

Dan commented on 9/17/2011:

The cocktail "Reckless Abandom" was merged into "The Art of Choke." While they were created by entirely different people, they have nearly the same ingredients and have the same overall idea.

Reckless Abandon was created by Justin James Noel, Empire Rooftop Lounge & Contemporary Cocktails Inc., NYC and was posted by user endless_optimism. Reference: http://meerkatproductsltd.typepad.com/embury/2010/08/cynar-cocktail-con….

It contained
1oz Rhum Agricole (Clement Premier Canne)
1oz Cynar
1/4 oz Lime juice
1/4 oz Rich demerara syrup
1/4oz Green Chartreuse
1spg mint as garnish

jaba commented on 3/24/2014:

Made this with Depaz Agricole before I learned not all rums are interchangeable and had to pour it down the sink.
2 months later I made it with Wray and Nephew and it was lovely.

blue_94_trooper commented on 4/25/2015:

Made one the other night for the first time in a while and it was even better than I remembered.  This is a truly outstanding cocktail.

I've been making this with Niessen Agricole Blanc and think its grassy funkiness amps up the herbaceous qualities of the Art of Choke.  I've never had the Depaz so I can't say what may have set off the previous commenter.  I recently got a bottle of the Wray & Nephew and will try that the next time I make one.

Edit: Tonight I tried one made with Wray & Nephew Overproof. Didn't really like it at all. The W&N added nothing but alcohol heat and the balance seemed lost. I felt it was necessary to be positive so in the interest of the greater good I made a second with the Niessen and it was much better!