Mixology Monday LIII, hosted by Chris Amirault on eGullet, poses a bit of a tough challenge: devise a craft cocktail that would appeal to someone without much exposure to craft cocktails.

I was asked to bring a cocktail to a Mexican-themed dinner party, one where I knew that some of the folks were, uh, not as adventurous as I. While I love a well-made Margarita, I played with the orange flavors to make something both innovative and delicious. The Cuatro Naranjas has strong, complex orange flavors from the Creole Shrubb, Aperol, and Angostura Orange bitters. The Campari deepens the flavors, adds a touch of bitterness, and when combined with Aperol create a grapefruit-like undertone. Looking at the ingredients, you might think that it is hopelessly challenging. No so. The lime balances the bitter.

Even the most "amariphobic" loved it.

Not "amariphobic", but this sure is a fantastic way to drink tequila :)

<br />This is an interesting, quite drinkable cocktail whose full potential has not yet been realized. I read the comment by one user who said that perhaps another amaro should be used. The comment about Jack Daniels Black (which I'm inclined to use when the recipe doesn't specify the bourbon) gave me pause. So I decided to make some changes, and see if they would do any better

I decided to use a lighter tasting rye than, say, Rittenhouse or Bulleit, so I chose WhistlePig 10 rye (100 proof) which is lighter and less dry than many other ryes (it's comprable to Templeton 4 years rye in that regard). I also added a moderate amount of lemon zest--you'll have to eyeball what a moderate amount is-- and the peel. I found the resultant drink to be quite satisfying. Zwack's bitterness was kept under control, and Amaro Lucano brought an acceptable amount of sweetness to the drink. I rated the cocktail, as I constructed it, as 3.5.

As is, the Madhattan is a satisfying pre-dinner drink, and with additional modifications, I believe this cocktail should ultimately be rated at least at 4.0. Suggestions for improvements, please.

Did this up last night with the cask strength 10 year old as that's what I had on hand. It's one of the few cocktails I've tried with this much green chartreuse where it didn't overwhelm the cocktail. Smoky, herbal, yet oddly refreshing.

For some reason this cocktail has an inconsistent recipe across the internet and it comes down to one ingredient - the Yellow Chartreuse. Here on this very website if you switch from oz to ml you get from 1/4 oz, in what I would call the American version to 1/3 oz (1 cl/10 ml) - either your website converter doesn't work or the recipe all of a sudden changed for the European market because it is easier to get the Chartreuse here :P

Then if you had over to the Washington Post where I first saw the recipe for this cocktail, the Yellow Chartreus here is 1/2 oz or double what Dan here has put: https://www.washingtonpost.com/recipes/laphroaig-project/15533/

Does anyone know what the original mix calls for???

This site does seem to use a 1/4 oz ~> 1 cL conversion. I don't know why, but I'm also not sure how common metric jiggers with sub-10mL markings are. The oXo angled measure seems to have one that may correspond to the 1/4 oz line. I have not tested to see what the cL->oz conversions do. I browse using oz measurements and the measurement units page appears more accurate if you need to convert a metric recipe. 

I think the Internet Archive cache of the reference used here is definitive for the recipe, given the page was made by the bar, the early post date, and the fact the WaPo article mentions another adjustment (a more affordable scotch). This uses 1/4 oz.

1 cL is almost exactly 1/3 fluid ounce (0.33814). The easiest way to remember this is that 1 oz ~ 30 mL (29.5735 mL). 1 cL = 10 mL.

Erick Castro on today's episode of Bartender at Large (the one with Paul Clarke) talked about how the Yellow Chartreuse started at 1/2 oz but it was soon lowered to 1/4 oz which is why there are a few recipes out there with the larger amount. Erick also joked that it helps with the pour cost in 2024 opposed to when a lot of these bottles were more than half the price back and easy to get in 2009...

I have a bar book from the 30's that has Between the Sheets as equal parts cognac, dry gin, cointreau and lemon juice. No rum. Quotes that this recipe is from the Bar Book from Weber at the King David.

Rachel,

Is that from Charles Baker? Wondrich (quoting Patrick Gavin Duffy) has the recipe as written, but I've also found sources that say it was invented by Harry McElhone (of Harry's Bar). I need to do some sleuthing to figure it out, but I'll update the drink when I do.

Thanks,

Zachary

Yes, I have got a copy of the Charles Baker book: Gentleman's Companion. BTW just a fascinating read.

This came up on the homepage and I noticed your note about it being unremarkable. I couldn't agree more, and I never understood the appeal of mixing brandy and light rum. It seems like a waste of both.

I've seen a number of other drinks called a "Between the Sheets" in various old books, I think it was just a popular name a la the Corpse Reviver and the Aviation.

Oops. My "bland" comment should be in my personal comments, and I've moved it there. Still, I'm not in love with this cocktail.

Prefer 1/2 oz lemon juice or less.

Dale De Groff's Essential Cocktail uses 1 1/2 oz cognac, 1/2 oz Benedictine, 1/2 oz Cointreau and 3/4 oz lemon juice. Flamed orange peel for garnish.

I'm surprised by the lack of love for this classic. I've seen many variations, but most call for 1 tsp or 1/4 oz lemon. I've seen 1/2 and 3/4 but for me a scant 1/2 is insanely good. A rare 5 stars from me!

Subbed in Mathilde Peche for the apricot liqueur (because the Peche is rarely called for) - worked fine.

Mixology Monday is a global cocktail party. No it's a cocktail nerd smackdown. Or a collaborative mega blog, perhaps. For April 2011, Spirited Remix hosted MxMo LVI with the theme "Your best." No pressure. Gulp. I'm to select my finest cocktail — one that I've refined and perfected. That I've made a zillion times. Gulp. Gulp.

I've refined the Arrack Attack over countless iterations, at least if you can't count beyond your thumbs. I've made this drink from for some time now, though. It elicits a warm response from the right audience. It's sweet and sour and bitter and savory and even a tiny touch salty all at once. A enthusiast's cocktail, I'd say.

Batavia Arrack von Oosten is not the most accessible member of the rum clan. It's the left-of-center slightly crazy uncle with the funky flavor you can't quite place. And Cynar, oh Cynar, that bittersweet amaro made from artichokes and magic. Together they work. Yes, there's a lot going on. Sip thoughtfully and you can tease apart the layers.

I selected this cocktail for a quarterly foodies group to which I belong. The particular event was covered by the Boston Globe, and there was a photo of me busily shaking up batches of Arrack Attacks. Our hosts prepared a rijsttafel. The Indonesian/Dutch connection of the Arrack was too good to pass up. I hope you enjoy it.

I enjoyed this drink very much, after adding an extra splash of Canton.

I increased the lime a bit, but otherwise I like this, though it took me a few minutes to settle into the bitterness...

This looks amazing - can you substitute the Domaine de Canton with Ginger Syrup?

FYI, rations may be off here.  Fred Yarm over at cocktailvirgin has this at 1/2 oz. of Lairds, and Fred's pretty trustworthy in these matters.  Otherwise, pretty tasty drink with big cinnamon notes from the heavy use of Angostura.

I've got a copy of the recipes from the book and the ratios here are correct - it's 1/4 oz Laird's Bonded, though good luck finding that anymore. Thanks,  Zachary

Zachary, I think a few stores in the US still has Laird's Bonded in stock. K&L being one of them. 

Looks like they have a case left... Thanks for the heads up. Zachary