Felicitations, much happiness and biddings of long life go out to our good friends Mary Jane Amato and Chris Clarke, who got married on a perfect, beautiful Saturday in May of 2005.

We were honored that they asked us to come up with a new cocktail for the occasion, which would be served to the wedding guests. Mixological duties fell to Wes this time, who had been knocking around some ideas in his head for Belle de Brillet (a French Cognac-based pear liqueur) for a while and eventually came up with this gem, which is a relative of the Footloose Cocktail and was a big hit at the reception. Even people who don’t normally quaff cocktails loved this one. (We were delighted to hear that MJ’s grandmother, normally very wary of drinking, had at one point finished her second and was considering a third!)

The Mary Jane Cocktail

2 ounces vanilla-infused vodka.
1 ounce Belle de Brillet.
1/2 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice.
2 healthy dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters.

Shake with cracked ice for 10 seconds and strain into a chilled cocktail glass; garnish with a lime twist.

 
 

Not to be outdone, the groom had a drink named after him as well. “The Christopher Michael”, however, was a bit simpler, and was described thusly on the menu: “A bottle of beer.” Natch.

Congratulations, youse two nutty kids!