dementor.jpg


mm23

There just aren’t enough Harry Potter-themed drinks, particularly when you have friends over to pay Harry Potter Uno. Butterscotch-flavored beer? I think not. I’m a big fan of the Corpse Reviver #2, so I thought this would be a good basis. After some experimentation, I looked up the less-popular Corpse Reviver #1, which is actually quite close to the experiments.

The Dementor #1

  • 1oz Clear Creek Apple Brandy
  • 1oz Sub Rosa Tarragon vodka
  • 1oz Lillet Blanc
  • 1oz lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz St. Germain elderflower liqueur
  • 1/2 oz simple syrup (optional, to taste)

(the proportions are a bit off, so I split this with someone else)

The fruity/earthy/mustiness of the apple brandy, the herbacious/anise of the Sub Rosa, and the wonderful complex floral St. Germain blend to make something just as transcendent as the Corpse Reviver #2. The earth and flowers, so associated with death. But yummy! I typically don’t like floral flavors, but the St. Germain is truly amazing, and I’m looking forward to trying some recipes substituting it for Cointreau. The Clear Creek brandy has a stronger component from the wood than most brandies, and puts it much closer to a peated Scotch than a Cognac or Calvados.

After drinking about half of it, I added a dash of Caol Ila, a smoky Islay Scotch. The smokiness really kicked up the drink, but overwhelmed some of the subtle complexity of it. Much more demented. I’m definitely going to need to keep Islay Scotch in mind for adding to the classic sours.

While watching Jane Austen’s Persuasion on PBS, I cracked on an bottle of fino sherry. The major flavor was walnut, and I thought it might be a good substitute for the Lillet. This made the complexity of the drink more manageable, and gave a nice nutty undertone.