This modern drink is a dark and twisted remix of the Negroni that takes its name from a Tom Waits' album and is made with Brandy (or in this case, Cognac), Mezcal, Cynar and optionally an Orange Twist.
This drink was invented in 2013 by Rhett Williams, bartender at Pourhouse Restaraunt in Vancouver. At the time, he was obsessed with trying to sub in, what he referred to as, "soft mezcals" for sweet vermouth in various cocktails. He made a Manhattan with Mezcal and some Chocolate Bitters and his experimenting lead him down the path to this drink. Willams' inspiration came from the template of the Negroni ([ Ссылка ]). He swapped out all the parts and stuck to a similar ratio and ended up with a drink that was in the same family, but that grew up on the other side of the tracks.
The gin in the Negroni was swapped out for Brandy. Williams used a Spanish Brandy, Torres 5-year. I used a Cognac, mostly because that's what I had on hand, but any Brandy will do. (And if you want some Tom Waits extra credit, you'll stir your Brandy with a nail.)
He swapped the Sweet Vermouth out for Mezcal. Williams recommended Fidencio (presumably Clasico), which he considered a soft Mezcal. Fidencio Clasico is a milder Mezcal. It's not as in-your-face as Del Maguey Vida. Fidencio's smoke is not there, but it doesn't overpower the spirit, which allows the earthy, green agave flavors to shine through. I used El Silencio Espadín, which is closer to Vida in terms of the strength of its smoke, but I feel like it works really well in this drink. The smokiness is right in the middle of the drink, but doesn't burn on the finish the way it would on its own.
The Cynar is the closest its Negroni counterpart, Campari. Like Campari, Cynar is a bitter Italian amaro, but unlike Campari it's made predominantly with artichokes as well as a dozen other herbs and spices. For some people, tasting Campari and Cynar back-to-back they wouldn't be able to tell the difference because all they could taste was the powerful bitterness. However, for those who can get into the bitterness, the bitterness is basically the only thing they have in common flavor-wise. Campari is sweet and bright and citrusy. Cynar is earthy, vegetal and spicy (cinnamon and allspice maybe).
Williams' original drink is made without a garnish. The orange twist was just something I added to create a little more complexity on first impression. I like it better that way, but feel free to leave the orange twist out.
The drink was named after a musical written by Tom Waits and William S. Burroughs that involved the protagonist, among other things, joining the Devil and his carnival of the damned. The musical became a Tom Waits record in 1993. Beyond the esoteric value of the backstory, it's just a great name for a drink, one that calls to mind a lot of the qualities and flavors of the concoction. It's earthy and sweet and bitter and smoky and vegetal and dark. And like all good drinks, it's complex and balanced. This Negroni of the Damned is perfect for happy hour or the before dinner drink. It will stimulate the appetite and get you ready to face the night. Cheers!
Recipe:
1 oz Brandy
1 oz Mezcal
0.75 oz Cynar
garnish Orange Twist (optional)
Stir with ice. Strain into chilled rocks glass. Optionally, garnish with Orange Twist.
Music:
Dance of the Dead by Håkan Eriksson
via Epidemic Sound
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Featured in This Drink:
Remy Martin VSOP Cognac
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Cynar
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El Silencio Espadín Mezcal
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Fidencio Clasico
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Bar Tools:
5 oz Rocks Glass (Different Brand)
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OXO SteeL Double Jigger
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Mixing Glass
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Hawthorne Strainer
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Barspoon
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Vegetable Peeler
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