This one takes its time, but it grows on you.
The recipe comes from CocktailDB.com, and it’s one of the first drinks I tried with my homemade pimento dram. I first gave it a spin earlier this week, when Murray at Zig Zag kindly took a stab at it, and now I’m mulling over one at home.
Truth be told, with the first couple of sips it didn’t look good–the lemon and pimento dram were in an uneasy dance, and the rum was standing around trying to figure out what to do. Though, after letting the drink rest a bit, I’m starting to see its charms–the nice allspice aroma rising up out of the glass, then that mellow brandy flavor made deeper by the rum (I used Appleton V/X), and the lemon just slightly taking the edge off the pimento dram’s sweetness. I think the key to this drink is to be very gentle with the pour of both the liqueur and the lemon juice–a smidgen either way, and the taste turns very weird.
Murray was also trying a version made with bourbon instead of brandy, and that showed promise; though, after thinking it over, I’ d probably approach it using a soft, wheated bourbon like Maker’s Mark or Weller, to give a more gentle base to the drink.
I don’t know if the None but the Brave is the cocktail to unlock the secrets and charms of pimento dram; but it’s a nice one to have in the playbook, when something warm and welcoming is needed in the glass.
None But The Brave
- 1 1/2 ounce brandy
- 1/2 ounce pimento dram
- 1/4 ounce Jamaica rum (Appleton V/X works nicely)
- 1/4 ounce lemon juice
- dash simple syrup (CocktailDB calls for 1/4 tsp sugar; that seems a bit too much)
Stir with ice, strain into chilled glass. Ponder.
