By Franz Scheurer
A Vulcan mind meld is not entirely without risk (just ask Tuvok in Star Trek Voyager) nor is the cocktail!
A couple of days ago I received a little bottle of Sazerac’s orange bitters, called ‘Regan’s No. 6 Orange Bitters’ to try out. I have been waiting for a decent orange bitters. Now I am well aware that many of the mixologists in Australia make their own but having tried Regan’s I must say this is the best one I have tried so far. It’s pungent without being artificial, it’s orangey without being too citric and it’s seriously bitter, just the way I like it. It works extremely well, especially in the classic Sazerac cocktail and no bar should be without a bottle or two.
The temptation to use it in a Sazerac was overwhelming and after playing around for a night or so, I came up with the following, Sazerac-leaning cocktail:
Mind Meld
Ingredients:
Lots of ice cubes
Quarter of a nip of Henri Bardouin Pastis de Provence
One cube of Ala Perruche brown sugar
Five drops of Regan’s Orange Bitters No. 6
A three-centimetre strip of lemon rind
Two nips of Inner Circle Green Dot Rum
Half a nip of Deribaucourt Gentiane Liqueur
Half a nip of Cointreau
A dash of soda
Method:
Rinse a tall glass with the Pastis. Pour out excess.
Put the sugar cube into the bottom the same glass. Add Bitters. Wait a couple of minutes then crush with the back of a spoon.
Flame lemon rind and squeeze oils into glass.
In a separate glass, filled with ice cubes, pour Rum, Gentiane and Cointreau, stir for about 1 minute. Strain contents of second glass into first glass, add 2 of the ice cubes and a dash of soda.
Serve.
Cheers!
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________