In Which The Smarter Among Us Figures Out What We Drank

(In other words, not me.) We tried this drink called the Perique Swizzle at this cocktail place nearby which was interesting and good (interesting *and* good is always good), then tried to replicate it at home: two ounces rum, 1.5 ounce mezcal, .5 ounce falernum, .5 ounce amaro (they used sfumato rabarbaro; we tried both cynar and amaro ciociaro, the latter being better), a pinch of salt and some crushed mint leaves. As the name evokes, the original was a variation on a swizzle, which is Caribbean using rum, falernum and juices. Go easy on the salt: the bartender at the Last Word called it a “salt brine” and indeed there’s a thin line between delicate oyster liquor and a snoutful of Labor Day surf.

On Falernum

I came across Falernum a few times in the PDT book, I think; it was one of those things I never saw/looked for/assumed it was expensive (it’s totally not; under $20). So anyway, I finally got a bottle. Jen immediately tried something called a “Doctor Funk #2” in Mr. Boston: six parts dark rum, two parts Falernum, two parts grenadine, three parts lime juice, one dash absinthe, one dash Angostura bitters and club soda (we didn’t use the club soda). She made another round, then some more the next day.

I don’t really like rum, though I’m not really sure why; I just avoid rum drinks, in general. Maybe it’s the goofy names. Jen, on the other hand, very much likes rum, so this was in her wheelhouse/right up her alley/whatever.

A few weeks later I was searching for more Falernum drinks and found the ridiculously named “Satin Sheets” in Mr. Boston: six parts blanco tequila, two parts Falernum, two parts simple syrup and three parts lime juice. Now this was a cocktail; and it passed the guest test a week or so later. The other day I tried it with Mezcal and it was still good.