I would like to rate this a 3.5, but can't go as low as 3, so it gets a 4. The drink, as I prepared it, seemed to capture the essence of the Croatian/eastern European liqueurs and is worth a try for regional/stylistic perspective if nothing else. I used Maraska Slivovitz, Badel Pelinkovac, and Maraska Maraschino (1/6 oz - 1 U.S. barspoon). As one might expect, the slivovitz dominates, enough that the cinnamon heat of the usually assertive Becherovka is in a supporting role rather being up front. It has some mild sweetness, and the Pelinkovac provides wormwood bitter and somewhat herbal background. If you don't like slivovitz (or Kirchwasser), then steer clear of this one. There is room for experimenting with the bones of this cocktail.

Looks great. Might try this one out on a guest. I'll have to change the name lest they also get the image of Papa Hemingway riding a pole in their heads.

Having tasted the Hemingway Stripper Pole, I have to admit it's worthy of a 4.0 rating. I'd like Zach to explain, however, how he came to know that this cocktail tastes "like a buttered stripper pole." The story, Zach! Please!

All I can say about that incident is this: If you've ever been in the wine business in north Texas , chances are you've been to a strip club. And if your visit comes in the middle of summer, you know what Batavia Arrack smells like.  Zachary

Definitely leans bitter and dry. The amount of lime juice seems high, making this more of a sour/dry than I prefer even though I went a little skinny on the lime. I might try again with 1/2 oz lime juice.

Not being a lover of peated drinks, but having an unopened 375 ml bottle of Johnny Walker Black on the shelf, I decided on a whim to try the Rob Roy 2--mostly because I like the traditional Rob Roy.

My thoughts on the drink? Not bad! Not great, but definitely not bad. The peat comes through despite the Punt e Mes, the orange bitters, and the lemon twist. People who enjoy peated cocktails will, in my opinion, enjoy this drink--especially late at night. Maybe that's why I rated it 4.0. It's now 11:20 PM, about another 40 minutes before bedtime.

First Test

This is an excellent drink.  The herbal bitterness of the Bonal complements the richness and floral notes of the rums, and the dash of lemon juice lifts it.  Very nice, thanks to the creator.

The Bonal gets a bit lost for me beneath two powerfully flavored rum/rhums and the lemon, and I love Bonal. Perhaps a true amaro or a partial replacement with a pie spice amaro? Or perhaps Meletti and could forgo the chocolate bitters?

Wow that one was a surprise! Excellent!