Punch Power

MATTHEW2 COMMENTSFROM THE LUNCH BOX, RECIPES, REVIEWS

Mar 19

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Rye 'n' Orange

Many months ago Shane had Keri and I over for dinner. In this blog I tried to do justice to the creativity and quality he brings to his cocktail making. I was so impressed with the results, I felt a blog post was in order.

At his house for a recent pre-Vernal Equinox celebration of Persian New Year–more on that tomorrow–Shane felt the need to show off his latest mixology skills. Again, he surprised me with something completely novel.

The Adderley

2 oz. Rye

3/4 shot of Luxardo

1/2 lemon juiced (approx 1/2 oz.)

2 dashes of orange bitters

Stir all ingredients. Not shaken.

The Part I Didn't Tell You About -- Burnt Orange

Taken separately the cloyingly syrupy maraschino cherry liquour nearly set my teeth on edge. And the rye on its own? Well, yech. But taken together with all the fixin’s, this drink is a dangerously delicious punch. I nearly hit the skids after two of them.

Thankfully, he plied me with a “Snap,” a Pennsylvania Dutch 80 proof liquour of nutmeg, molasses, ginger and roobios tea which seemed to put me someplace else entirely.

Two Snaps Up!

I’m thinking the roobios tea is a less-than-Pennsylvania Dutch touch, but it’s yet another liquor in Shane’s arsenal that is set out to wow. Hmm, Dutch touch. Nice ring to that. I ought to use that in a blog post at some point.

At any rate, rarely does Shane make cocktails and leave you hanging on the music front. This night’s roll was Louis Jordan’s jump blues Pandora station. The pre-rock, blues, and jazz vibe went beautifully with the drinks.

Shane lives in the H Street Corridor area but with Ali, they travel the world. In all their travels, though, one of their all time favorite finds is the hidden cocktail haven-cum-speakeasy in Philadelphia called the FRANKLIN MORTGAGE AND INVESTMENT COMPANY

112 South 18th Street

Basement

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(267) 467-3277

Franklin Investment and Trust

This chic yet humble gem is a healthy walk from the convention center for après business drinks as well as a perfect post-dinner retreat off nearby Rittenhouse Square. The drinks like the Ghost Town or a Jersey Lightening are both memorable, and if you drink too many of them, completely forgettable all at the same time. So while you have to be cautious about your intake here, because all drinks taste so smooth, the fact is that these little cocktails pack a powerful…well…punch. The punch is where it’s at, baby. The more obscure the better, and there’s like 100 different iterations to choose from with bitters, sours, sweet sips, and bold pours. A flawless date place, I found that it can be easiest to get a table relying on the adage: the early bird gets the worm.

And Shane and Ali’s pick is the place. Dew drop inn next time you find yourself checking out Independence Hall.

- See more at: http://www.alunchboxblog.com/the-adderley/?preview=true&preview_id=2713&preview_nonce=d0baa11c7a#sthash.YJeM8VRQ.dpuf