While flipping through a cocktail book a very special drink caught my eye; the Gansevoort Fizz. While this isn’t the first cocktail with an unusual name to have caused me pause, it was the description that had me salivating for more. It seems this particular cocktail’s inspiration was a drink from the 1930’s; The Mackinnon.
The Mackinnon
2 ounces Drambuie
1/2 ounce Light Rum
1/2 ounce Lime Juice
1/2 ounce Lemon Juice
Club Soda
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend. Strain into a Collins glass with only 2 or 3 ice cubes in it. Top off with club soda.
Drambuie definitely showcased, but lacks in strength. Club soda overwhelms for flavor purposes, but satisfies on the thirst quenching side. Notation: What makes this cocktail interesting is the history behind the name…
Be it legend, lore or good old fashioned honest truth, Drambuie came to be passed down through the ages by the hands of a prince after a bloody rebellion was quashed. Prince Charles Edward Stuart fought to restore the exiled kings of England, Scotland and Ireland to their rightful thrones. The Highland clans fought alongside the prince. One hundred thirty miles from London, at Cullonden Moor, the rebellion was crushed. The prince escaped capture, but a price was placed upon his head. Captain John Mackinnon of Strathaird gave the prince 
refuge, helping him to return safely to France. In gratitude the prince bestowed upon Captain Mackinnon the recipe to his most prized elixer. Each bottle still honors the prince on its label with the words “REMEMBER THE GIFT OF THE PRINCE”
The contents of the bottle is more complex than the off the cuff description of heather and honey. After all, a future king demanded particular things of the secret potion that nursed his soul. Drambuie’s base liquor is scotch whisky that has been infused with heather honey. There is also a hint of cloves believed to have analgesic properties in addition to releasing a spicy aroma. Saffron is included in the formula lending Drambuie its golden splendor.
Gansevoort Fizz – created by David Wondrich
2 ounces Medium Bodied Rum
1 ounce Drambuie
1 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
2 to 3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
Club Soda
Combine all liquids (except club soda) in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend. Strain into chilled Collins glass without any ice. Top with 2 to 3 ounces of chilled club soda.
This version comes across with more strength than the Mackinnon, yet the club soda fizzies still diminish the flavor of the Drambuie. While the balance is there for what the drink was designed for, the fizz is taking too much shine off the bare bones of what I really wanted to taste; the smooth complexity of the Drambuie.
Sometimes one must dare to go bare.
Defizzing Gansevoort
2 ounces Medium Bodied Rum
1 ounce Drambuie
1 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
Lemon Twist Garnish
Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with fresh lemon twist.
The Gansevoort Fizz balanced sweetness against fresh lemon with dark rum as its highlight, thus allowing the Drambuie to shine. It made sense to take away the fizz and allow the cocktail to stand tall. The drink retains modern classic flair while keeping the craft of bartending intact. The flavor is intense without the blur of bubbles. It flirts with the taste buds just enough to keep one interested in another sip.
Classic cocktails can stimulate creativity toward new paths. Pick up an old cocktail book and start browsing. Turn something old into something new again.
Browse more Classic Cocktails and drink recipes inspired by the classics by following the link. High resolution digital photo downloads are available for brand, cocktail menu creation use and individual
use at www.cheriloughlin.com within the Beverages category.
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I tried this once (or twice) tonight. Had a little brain fart and used lime juice for the first one – 2oz Mt. Gay Eclipse, 1oz Drambuie, 1oz lime juice (Bearss), Peychaud’s, and it was pretty damn good. Just finishing off the second using 1oz Meyer lemon juice instead – also super tasty. Thanks!
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