Wild Bill Hickok, known for his reputation as lawman and gambler, sat with his back to the door while playing poker at Nuttal & Mann’s Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood this fateful day in history (August 2, 1876). Hickok rarely sat with his back to the door in order to protect himself from possible ambush from his many enemies. However, the itch to gamble must have been difficult to resist this particular day. The price was heavy. He held a pair of aces and eights in his hand, but took a bullet in the back of the head by Jack McCall. The hand Wild Bill Hickok held in his hand at death is known as ‘Dead Man’s Hand.’ Wild Bill Hickok’s death motivates many men to take the chair facing the door as lesson to keep an eye open for what may lurk around the corner. The cards left in his hand also inspired a drink or two over the years in cocktail circles. The drinks listed below may or may not be cocktails inspired by the legend we know as Wild Bill Hickok, but they play upon the ‘Dead Man’s Hand’ cards that have become so famous in the poker world today.

Dead Man-Go Drink Recipe

Dead Man-Go may simply be a play on words, but this stunning cocktail takes advantage of fresh produce for the freshest flavor possible in a cocktail. No matter your preference for base spirit, market fresh muddling makes cocktails much more flavorful.

Dead Man-Go

1 ounce Honey Vodka

1 ounce Mango Nectar

4 slices of Ginger Root – finely chopped

1 teaspoon Agave Nectar

2 Orange Wedges

Splash Raspberry Liqueur

Pomegranate Seeds

Muddle chopped ginger and orange wedges in bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add vodka, mango nectar and ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Add a splash of raspberry liqueur to the top and sprinkle of fresh pomegranate seeds.

Dead Man’s Mule Drink Recipe

If you like the flavor of Absinthe, Dead Man’s Mule might be the drink recipe for you. Licorice, cinnamon and almond combine with a topper of light ginger bubbles.

Dead Man’s Mule

1 ounce Absinthe

1 ounce Goldschlager Liqueur

3/4 ounce Orgeat Almond Syrup

3/4 ounce Fresh Lime Juice

Ginger Beer

Lime Wedge

Place absinthe, liqueur, syrup and juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into a tall glass over fresh ice. Fill with ginger beer. Garnish with fresh lime wedge.

Wild West Whiskey Drinks

There is no such thing as the ‘Wild West’ without Whiskey. Old movies are full rough cowboys walking into saloons, bellying up to the bar and ordering up generic whiskey only to slug back a shot and order another round or two, three or four. Times have changed – sort of. Whiskey is no longer so generic, but some still shoot back one or two from time to time. Dead Man’s handle and Walking Dead Man offer a bit of whisky whimsy and a shot of whiskey fun.

Dead Man’s Handle

1/2 ounce Mandarine Napoleon

1/2 ounce Coffee Liqueur

1 ounce Scotch Whisky

1 ounce Heavy Cream

Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.

Walking Dead Man Shot

1/2 ounce Whiskey

1/2 ounce Wild Turkey Bourbon

1/2 ounce Southern Comfort

Combine liquids in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a shot glass.

All content ©2014 Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist. All Rights Reserved. Chat with Cheri @Intoxicologist on Twitter and facebook.com/Intoxicologist or str8upcocktails@gmail.com