Liberty Bell — Equal parts rye, sloe gin and apricot liqueur, shaken

Liberty Bell

Equal parts rye, sloe gin and apricot liqueur, shaken

Number of people

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ozRye Whiskey
    The only dry thing in the glass
  • 1 1/2 ozSloe Gin
    Equal to the rye; a real sloe gin, not a cordial
  • 1 1/2 ozApricot Liqueur
    Equal again, and the drink is a third sweet by volume
  • 3 dashesJerry Thomas Own Decanter Bitters
    Three dashes; what stops it collapsing into fruit
    Substitute: Any rich aromatic bitters

Instructions

  1. Add 1 1/2 oz rye, 1 1/2 oz sloe gin, 1 1/2 oz apricot liqueur and 3 dashes Jerry Thomas bitters to a shaker
  2. Fill with ice and shake hard

    Hard, despite the lack of citrus; both liqueurs are viscous

  3. Strain into a chilled coupe

Technique Notes

Shake this one hard despite there being no citrus in it. Sloe gin and apricot liqueur are both viscous, and without aeration the drink pours thick and tastes heavier than the ingredients suggest it should.

Why the Liberty Bell Works

Sloe gin is tart and apricot liqueur is not, which is the only reason equal parts works. Rye supplies the dryness and the spice, and three dashes of a dried-fruit aromatic tie all three together rather than adding a fourth flavour.

More recipes with The Bitter Truth Jerry Thomas Own Decanter Bitters