Palmetto
I’m a big movie fan. I like the new releases, but I’m especially partial to the classics. With all the sequels and remakes coming out in this day and age, it can be hard to find a good film. Honestly, I don’t know why so many sequels and remakes are made today. I mean, most of them aren’t even any good. There are however a few that were actually better than the original. Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back of course and the Godfather Part II, just to name a couple.
What do sequels have to do with cocktails? Well, today’s drink, the Palmetto has two different versions. The original is a Dry Palmetto made with white rum and dry vermouth… and it’s awful. Based on everything I read, I wasn’t sure I was going to try it, but if I’m going to introduce you to a cocktail, I like to know what I’m talking about. So, I stirred one up, tasted it… and then dumped the rest down the drain. It tasted like rubbing alcohol… not that I’ve ever had rubbing alcohol. All I can tell you is I don’t usually dump out a fresh drink, but after one sip, there was no way I was finishing it. Luckily, someone felt the same way I did way back when and created a sequel. A sequel that tasted much, much better. It’s made with aged rum and sweet vermouth. The combination of which make for a much more palatable cocktail that’s complex, sweet, dark, and delicious.
Here’s what’s great about both these cocktails: they only require two or three ingredients, can be stirred up and strained into a beautiful old coupe and can pretty much be made at a moment’s notice without a huge liquor cabinet. While I don’t like the Dry Palmetto, I’m very happy I discovered the sequel. Unlike the original which uses white, un-aged rum, the sweet version uses an aged rum. I prefer the Angostura 7 year which has a sweet, caramel flavor, but you can use whichever aged rum is your favorite. While the rum is great on its own, adding some sweet vermouth turns this cocktail into a rum Manhattan, which means if you’re not quite ready for a real Manhattan made with rye, this is a wonderful alternative. It’s also a perfect bridge to take your from late summer into fall.
Palmetto
Ingredients:
- 1-1/4 ounces aged rum
- 1-1/4 ounces sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes orange bitters
Directions:
- Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with an orange peel and serve.
