March: In Like a Lion
By Stephen Wecker
Cured and 18th & 21st
This cocktail is a play on a classic Lion’s Tail, traditionally made with bourbon laced with allspice dram, lime juice and simple syrup, with a dash bitters.
We lightened things up a little bit for the coming of spring by switching out the bourbon for its lighter spicier sibling, rye. We also changed out the deep, wintery allspice dram for the more herbal Cardamaro, a cardamom-spiced amaro.
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounce Sagamore 86 proof Rye Whiskey
- 1/2 ounce Cardamaro
- 1/2 ounce lime juice
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup,
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
Place all ingredients in a shaker tin with ice and shake. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a wide lime twist.
On the palate, the rye and bitters will come through with hints of the March lion we are leaving behind, while the lime and cardamom will be a refreshing and lamb-like harbinger of the season to come.
Previously the Bar Manager at Iron Bridge Wine Co. Stephen Wecker is part of a new family-owned venture in the Columbia area called Cured and 18th & 21st, where he and Kyle Flanagan execute the bar program. Stephen’s is inspired by the stories behind the spirits, wine and beer he serves to customers every day.
