We’re back with another Proper Cocktail Hump Day. As promised, we managed to (finally) steer clear of gin, and instead delved into a lesser-considered base spirit: Applejack. With Valentine’s Day approaching, we wanted to do a romantic cocktail of some sort. But a lot of the ‘romance drinks’ out there are very pink, and very full of sugary ingredients, and those are really just not our scene. So we decided to make an old, old, old classic that has very little to do with romance outside of its name and its lovely hue: the Jack Rose.
The Jack Rose has an unclear origin, but it’s been around for ages. It’s mentioned in Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, and was apparently a favorite drink of John Steinbeck. And it’s one of the six basic drinks found in Embury’s The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks. The recipe we used is as follows:
1-1/2 oz Applejack
3/4 oz lemon juice
1/2 oz homemade grenadine*
shake with ice, strain, serve up with lemon twist garnish
The drink itself is so simple, and so delicious. It’s sweet and sour all at once, and it goes down way too easily. So whether you’re snowed in tonight and in need of a nightcap, or planning the perfect cocktail to kick off your Valentine’s Day dinner next week, keep the Jack Rose near the top of your list.
* To make a delicious fresh grenadine, all you have to do is:
1) Mix 1 cup unsweetened pomegranate juice (we use POM) with 1 cup granulated sugar.
2) Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from heat.
3) Stir in the juice from half a lemon to really make it pop.
One of my very favorite cocktails!