The other day when I was tired and cranky in an airport with my fiancé, he cracked the joke, “What’s a pirate’s favorite letter?” I can’t remember if I even played along. Jeff ’s favorite thing to do is laugh hysterically at his own jokes, so “NO, IT’S THE SEEEEAAAAA!” broke the silence. His bravery in telling the stupidest joke I’ve ever heard was fueled by liquid courage. We made friends with strangers. We probably even embarrassed his family. Thanks, bourbon!
Fronds with Benefits is a gussied up daiquiri with fresh muddled pineapple and two modifiers, Lee Spirits Co. Alpine and Creme de Cacao. The cocktail aficionados out there might recognize this as a Pago Pago, classically made with a gold Puerto Rican rum and green chartreuse. I've substituted Kirk & Sweeney 12, a 12-year-old Dominican Republic rum aged in American oak barrels, and Lee Spirits Co. Alpine liqueur, a lower ABV take on the antique French liqueur made from 27+ Rocky Mountain botanicals macerated in the juniper forward heads cut of their flagship Dry Gin. Throw a little Creme de Cacao made with fair trade cacao nibs from Trinidad and Tobago, spices, and vanilla. Boom! You have a completely confusing and delicious ice breaker.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces Kirk & Sweeney 12
- 3-4 pineapple chunks (cut 'em if you got 'em, or just buy that pre-cut stuff because this is a party, not a bar shift, people)
- juice of half a lime (or ½ ounce)
- ½ ounce Lee Spirits Co. Alpine
- ½ ounce Lee Spirits Co. Creme de Cacao
Preparation
Add pineapple to shaker tin or pint glass, muddle or break apart with wooden spoon, and add remaining ingredients. Fill with ice. Shake good and hard. Strain into a chilled coupe, Nick & Nora, whatever you’ve got. Double strain if you hate chunks. I promise they won't kill you. You can even strain it over fresh ice if you'd prefer a little more dilution. Now go have a forced conversation with someone and find yourself laughing. Or don't! Also delicious without small talk...
