I found this stashed in Esquire Drinks in the chapter on what to imbibe when you’re dealing with having had a bit too much. I didn’t realize this at the time, as I was looking for something to make with an open bottle of cava, so the hefty pour of whiskey didn’t seem strange to me at all.
When I came back to the book to begin this post, I realized that this is a tipple for the morning after and nearly choked. If I tried to drink one of these the next day, I’d wind up spending more time cuddling the porcelain teddy bear, not less. And really, with a title like Sea Captain’s Special, would you expect a drink that coddles? I didn’t think so, either.
½ teaspoon sugar or 1 sugar cube
2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
2½ oz rye
2 dashes absinthe (or Pernod, Herbsaint, etc.)
champagneWet sugar with Angostura and a splash of water or club soda in an old-fashioned glass. Muddle and rotate the glass so the sugar coats the sides. Add a large ice cube and pour in the rye. Top with champagne and absinthe.
Yet again, the Sazerac rye wins! This is a hefty drink that’ll put some hair on your chest, but if you like rye it pushes the right buttons. The hint of anise flavor enlivens and adds a very delightful complexity alongside the bitters. I’ll definitely be saving this for a dark, gusty night near the sea when I need a bracing dram. Arrrrr.
October 3rd, 2007at 8:47 am(#)
Arrr. A fine drink, she be!
I’ve never understood the “hair of the dog” thing. If I’m wobbling around on Training Wheels and trying not to throw up already, putting a strong drink in my face the next day will only hasten the spew.
October 3rd, 2007at 3:52 pm(#)
For you and me both. If I tried to drink one of these with a hangover it would be an ugly, ugly scene—uglier probably than being seasick.
October 8th, 2007at 10:51 am(#)
Cava! I had my share this past week, but not so much with the whiskey…
I can’t imagine this would cure any hangover I’ve ever had either, except if it just flat out killed me dead.
January 22nd, 2009at 7:52 am(#)
Looks to me like a Sazerac with Ango instead of Peychaud’s and a different method of adding the absinthe. Why would this be a hangover cure?
January 25th, 2009at 5:49 pm(#)
I’m not sure why it would be—whomever came up with it billed it as such but, as I mentioned, I couldn’t handle this on the morning after.