The Dempsey Cocktail
It’s Friday which of course means it’s cocktail time. I know that Thanksgiving was yesterday and the cocktails and wine were probably flowing. But if you happened to be the host(ess) with the most(ess), you’re probably exhausted and wouldn’t mind having another drink or two to enjoy while relishing the quiet. Well, as always I’m here to help with another fun, fancy and seriously fermented cocktail.
Today we’re doing the Dempsey which is another apple-based drink. But unlike the past couple drinks which used Applejack, today’s cocktail uses Apple Brandy. What’s the difference? Applejack is a fermented apple cider that’s then mixed with grain spirits making it more like a whiskey or bourbon. Apple Brandy is a wine-based liquor making it more subtle, sipping drink. So while both Applejack and Apple brandy are good, each creates a very different cocktail.
Today’s cocktail is completely different from the Delicious Sour or the Applejack Rabbit because they both use Applejack as their base spirit. The Dempsey’s apple brandy is secondary to the gin. So where you can really taste the applejack in the other two cocktails, the apple flavor in this drink is much more subtle. Much like the boxer for whom this cocktail is named, the gin hits hard at first, but just when you think you’ve got a handle on the cocktail, the apple follows up with a quick left. You won’t be seeing stars, but you’ll definitely need a minute before you take another swig. Yes, this cocktail is one strong drink. But just like its namesake, you’ll never see another like it.
The cocktail was created by Robert Vermeire in 1921 after Jack Dempsey beat the odds on favorite, Georges Carpentier, in what was dubbed the “battle of the century”. In many ways it was. Not only was Carpentier favored by 50 to 1 because he simultaneously held the European heavyweight and world light heavyweight titles, it was the first time a boxing match had 90,000 spectators. But there weren’t just people in the auditorium. This was also the first fight to ever be broadcast via radio, which meant another estimated 300,000 people tuned in to hear every right hook and uppercut. So when Dempsey layed out Carpentier a couple minutes into the fourth it was clear there was a new champion in town. A champion who deserved a cocktail as strong as he, and he got it thanks to Vermeire.
And strong this cocktail is. Trust me when I tell you that one sip and you’ll be wavering on the mat just like Carpentier. But a cocktail this strong makes for the perfect tipple for any holiday party. See, all your guests will be so busy sipping their Dempseys, they won’t be asking you for more cocktails. That way you’ll be able to mix up a Dempsey for yourself and enjoy the party rather than stay behind the bar.
The Dempsey Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Apple Brandy
- 1 oz. gin
- 1/2 teaspoon grenadine
- 1/2 teaspoon Absinthe
Directions:
- Place all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for a minute. Strain into a cocktail glass and serve.
