Cocktail of the Mo': Autumn Breeze

When we were down in Portland this past Fall, the girls went out for drinks and apps at Beaker and Flask.  This is one of the things I miss most, good food paired with good cocktails with my good friends.

Neighborhood bars are everywhere but there's no place like PDX for the perfect blend of mixologist-cum-foodistas.  These people try to create interesting concoctions in the kitchen & behind the bar by using the time-honored traditions of letting the high quality ingredients speak for themselves.

Not to mention being total snobs about their booze.

Each of us started with a cocktail.  If I've said it once... I'm usually leery of too many sweets in an otherwise good drink.  And I let the server know it (I'm so high maintenance...)  Our server steered me towards the "Valerie's Swimsuit".  He stated it was the perfect Fall-into-Winter drink; apple brandy with some herbal liqueur, tarted up with lemon, then finished with a float of sparkling wine.  "You would be right at home sipping it pool-side or fire-side"  said he.

Big talk and a tall order to please me.

It was love at first sip!  A little sweetness in the Calvados, warmth in the cinnamon syrup, a good pucker-up with the lemon and I will never say no to bubbles.

Obviously.

Here's the thing.  In Portland, with it's flourishing cocktail culture, you can find obscure liqueurs and bitters.  Vernon?  No way.  You can't even find them in BC (believe me, I've checked the BCLC website, as sad as it is.)  Reasons to love Portland: 356, Vernon: 3.

Well, I need to put that chemistry degree to good use so I tinkered and toiled in my anti-teetotaling way and came up with a very fine adaptation...

Autumn Breeze

1 1/2 oz. apple brandy, my choice?  OKS Canados

2 dashes bitters

1/2 oz. Benedictine

1/2 oz. cinnamon syrup (recipe follows)

1/2 oz. lemon juice

Shake well and pour into your glass of choice, filled with ice (I like an Old Fashioned glass or a stemless wineglass).  The add up to an ounce of sparkling and lemon peel.

Cinnamon Simple Syrup

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

Two cinnamon sticks

Bring to a boil.  Let steep until cool.  Remove sticks and refrigerate.  Great in so many ways.