Yep, that’s a Bronx Cheer; I’ve always been highly amused by representations of such in print, most likely due to a childlikeish streak that lurks in many of us. (Pthbbpt!)

However, as you may or may not know, the Bronx is a lot more than just a cheer, or a borough of New York, or the home of a nifty zoo. It’s a venerable old cocktail, one that deserves to be quaffed nowadays. Today’s edition of Gary Regan’s column “The Cocktailian” tells us many nifty stories about the Bull and Bear Bar at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where this drink was created (as well as the Rob Roy and the Bobbie Burns), and which saw “Mark Twain, Buffalo Bill, and Bat Masterson quaffing cocktails way back when the old place was on the site of today’s Empire State Building.”

Bronx Cocktail

2 ounces gin.
1/4 ounce sweet vermouth.
1/4 ounce dry vermouth.
1 ounce fresh orange juice.
1 to 2 dashes orange bitters.
1 orange twist, for garnish

Shake over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Add the garnish.

Hello kids! It’s time for “Playing with CocktailDB“.

Doc and Martin and been doing an amazing job with CocktailDB, and the rewritten and revamped version of what’s up is only a hint as to what it’ll finally become. I decided to do a little playing, entering an ingredient and seeing what cocktails come up from the database.

I entered “Cherry Heering”, the lovely Danish cherry liqueur that seems to be currently unavailable in the States due to lack of a distributor (UPDATE: That was cleared up by the end of ’03). I was lucky enough to find a dusty old bottle at Dorignac’s in Metairie and snapped it up. It’s not just for before- or after-dinner sipping, or for Singapore Slings and pousse cafés … I punched it in, 27 recipes came up, and this one sounded the most interesting. I have no idea what it’ll taste like, but it looks intriguing, so I’ll try it tonight and let you know tomorrow if it’s any good (try it yourself first, if you’re adventurous and if you’ve got a bottle of Heering in the back of your bar). Besides, what the world needs now is more rye cocktails.

If you don’t have Heering, I suppose a “cherry-flavored brandy” or other sweet cherry liqueur could be substituted, but not a clear eau-de-vie. Hmm … but kirschwasser would make this cocktail quite bone-dry. Would it be too dry? (Yes, it would. Use Heering, it’s easy to find now.)

The High Hat Cocktail

1-1/2 ounces rye whiskey. (6/10)
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice. (2/10)
1/2 ounce Cherry Heering. (2/10)

Shake in iced cocktail shaker and strain.
Garnish with a cherry.