Refreshing Beverage of the Week
This week we have some listener input, which I love. It’s for a beverage called “Smoked Anise” and it was sent into me by one of my transplanted New York fans mostly because she thought it sounded so weird. Well that’s a good enough reason for me to try it, so here goes! This recipe is adapted from Elixir, in San Francisco and printed in the New York Times.
Ingredients
1 oz. vodka
1/4 oz. anisette
1/8 oz. Islay Scotch (like Laphroaig)
Whole star anise, for garnish (optional)
Procedure
Combine the ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir for at least 15 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and for garnish float a star anise in the drink.
Okay so we tried this on the air, and both Andrew and I thought it was awful. Then I went to my final critique in my printmaking class and took it with me. I asked some of my classmates to try it and to my surprise they loved it! Maybe it was because the ice had started to melt into the drink and it mellowed out. Or maybe because it made the class more enjoyable. Either way it was a pleasant surprise!
