“Cocktail College” is brought to you today by Balcones. Listener, we love an innovator here at “Cocktail College,” which is why we’re excited to be working with Balcones. Born in Waco, Texas, Balcones has been at the forefront of Texas’ very own whisky revolution since 2008. With releases including the Lineage and Texas One single malts, Texas Rye Bottle-In-Bond, and Brimstone, a one-of-a-kind release that couldn’t be made anywhere but the Lone Star State. And let’s not forget Baby Blue, the rich and complex expression crafted from blue corn. Funnily enough, I remember the very first time I tasted Baby Blue in my hometown of Lincoln, England — would you believe it? It blew my mind then and it continues to do so today, more than a decade on. So what are you waiting for, listener? Head to balconesdistilling.com to learn more. PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY. DISTILLED & BOTTLED AT BALCONES DISTILLING, WACO, TX.
There are cocktails named after battles and there are cocktails that feel like battles themselves. The Remember the Maine might just be both. Inspired by the rallying cry for a war history has often forgotten, the Remember the Maine is a drink that wears its patriotism on its sleeve and its vermouth and cherry components with pride. At first glance, it reads like a Manhattan with flair: rye, sweet vermouth, Cherry Heering, and a rinse of absinthe. But follow its trail and you’ll find a drink that likely evolved from another historical oddity.
That evolution tells us a lot about how drinks come to be popular, if only for a minute or two under the hot Cuban sun. So what exactly defines the Remember the Maine? How does one balance its bold ingredients without sinking the whole thing into absolute chaos? And how do you honor its historical roots without getting stuck in the past?
Helping us navigate its complicated history and composition is Joel Lee Kulp, owner and general manager of Brooklyn’s The Richardson. It’s the curious cocktail pipeline that runs from McKinley to Maine, improved, altered, riffed upon, and perhaps even perfected. And it’s all right here on the “Cocktail College” podcast. Tune in for more.
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Joel Lee Kulp’s Remember the Maine Recipes
*Directions follow recipes*
Variation 1
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Dolin sweet vermouth
- ¼ ounce Cherry Heering
- 2 ounces Wild Turkey 101 Rye Whiskey
- Garnish: lemon twist
Variation 2
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce Dolin sweet vermouth
- ¼ ounce Cherry Heering
- 2 ounces Michter’s Rye Whiskey
- ¼ ounce Pernod Pastis
- Garnish: lemon twist
Variation 3
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce Dolin sweet vermouth
- ¼ ounce Vicario Savage Cherry Liqueur
- 2 ounces Russell’s Rye Whiskey
- Garnish: Absinthe spritz (on serving glass)
Directions (for all three variations)
- Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir until well chilled and strain into a cocktail/coupe glass.
- Add garnish if the recipe calls for it.
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