COCKTAILS FOR DARK TIMES Mixologist Madeline Dillon solves our problems
We’ve been feeling dark. Chilled by Hallowe’en, the Day of the Dead, cold nights + political despair, we turned to mixologist + cocktail consultant Madeline Dillon for soothing potions to shift our black moods. We requested Cocktails for Dark Times + Madeline crafted two cocktails to please the most churlish crowd.
Cocktail recipes: Madeline Dillon | IG @madmadethese
Photos: Madeline Dillon/Special to The Dishing
Inspiration: “When the dog days are over and each night greets us earlier than the last, villains become more interesting than heroes. These two cocktails are inspired by that increasing familiarity we feel with the darkness this time of year.” - Madeline Dillon
THE COCKTAIL: Miserable, Darling
”How are you feeling today?” “Miserable, Darling” is a black as night Hemingway daiquiri that got its name from Cruella Deville’s reply. The drink is deceptive though – it looks like a threat but tastes fresh and bright, showing maybe not all our frights are as fearsome as they appear.
The build: Miserable, Darling
2 oz. silver rum
½ oz. maraschino liqueur
½ oz. black peppercorn simple syrup
½ oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
¼ tsp. activated charcoal* ( *use carefully as it can interact with some medications)
Garnish: salted half-rim, lime zest
THE COCKTAIL: The White Cheek
Inspired by Snow White’s wicked Queen and her poison apple, The White Cheek is an apple and chamomile-scented white Negroni garnished with a bitter red jelly skull candy. Before the disguised Queen gives Snow White the poisoned apple, she cuts it in half giving her the poisoned half and eating the safe half herself. Was it the rosy or the white cheek? — Do you dare to try and find out?
The build: The White Cheek
1 oz. Plymouth gin
1 oz. white bitter liqueur
1 oz. extra dry vermouth
5-6 drops fresh green apple juice
rinse of chamomile-infused extra dry vermouth
pinch of salt
skull candy garnish: campari, orange zest + agar agar
About Madeline Dillon: Madeline is a mixologist, author, bar instructor, cocktail consultant + an original founding partner of {pretty to think so} in Rhinebeck, N.Y. She is partnering with The Dishing to offer cocktail classes. Her self-published holiday cocktail book is available to purchase here.