Let’s say you want to class it up for St. Patrick’s Day. Something in a fancy glass perhaps? Aside from the Blackthorn and Irish Coffee in a fancy glass, there aren’t a ton of options. To remedy this, I decided to try to emphasize the nutty and caramel notes I see in Irish whiskey, and add a little twist. The resulting cocktail is rich, smooth, and delightfully spicy. Like a Leprechaun’s Charm.
Leprechaun’s Charm
Leprechaun’s Charm is an emphasis of the nuttiness of Irish whiskey while bringing in some of the caramel and honeyed notes. The roller-coaster of flavors starts out in the honeyed notes of the whiskey and spiced notes of the allspice and the falernum. The sherry cuts through the richness, adding in elements of bright, nuttiness. The orange opens up the bouquet, adding a freshness. An ever so subtle bitterness lingers on the ending.
Drink Notes & Recommendations
This drink is powerful and aggressive, yet balanced. Don’t expect to pound these all night, they’re designed to experience the variation and combination of flavors.
- Irish Whiskey – I used Jameson in the original and The Busker Triple Cask in the second test. Both of them came out well balanced, but the underlying texture of the whiskey was the prevalent characteristic. The higher proof (or heavier mouthfeel) you use, the heavier this cocktail will feel.
- Allspice Dram – We recommend St. Elizabeth’s and it’s what we keep in our bar. Feel free to use what you enjoy or have access to. Beware – this is a bully ingredient.
- Falernum – We use John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum, but feel free to substitute your preference.
- Sherry – Like a lot of cocktails that feature sherry, you can drag yourself off into a ditch fast here. We used Fino Sherry de Jerez for this due to the bright, fresh nutty character to it. This brightness is critical for balance. I would not recommend using something sweeter like PX or Oloroso. The brand for this cocktail was Savory & James Fino Sherry.
- Orange Twist – Although it seems trivial, this cocktail is not complete until you express your orange over the cocktail. Use a fresh orange and vegetable peeler to remove a section of peel. Pinch the white (interior) side of the peel forward to spray the oils over the the glass. You can either add this twist to the drink or use a channeler / separate piece of zest for your visual garnish (which is where our twist comes from in the picture).
- Glassware – Serve in a coupe
- The Name – We went with Leprechaun’s Charm as a result of the feeling this smooth, powerful, spicy drink reflected the characteristics of a Leprechaun hiding their pot of gold.