Drink Me Recipe: Behemoth’s Claret

We here at BAS Headquarters are always thinking of new awesome things to bring to you, our dear (and depraved) readers.  So with this in mind we’ve teamed up with the fine folks over at Drink Me Magazine to bring you a new drink recipe every Thursday.  That way you can make yourself a little special sumptin-sumptin to aid you in your weekend wickedness. This week’s recipe, brought to you by the very esteemed Patrick Poelvoorde, is the Behemoth’s Claret. Take it away Patrick!

This week’s cocktail is a variation of a classic, just like me. The Negroni, like many turn-of-the-century libations, has a somewhat hazy inception. The most widely accepted story is that some Count guy asked a barkeep if he could 'œhook it up' on his Americano cocktail by adding more booze. The bartender obliged and replaced the club soda with gin and traditional lemon twist with a peel of orange. Bam! The Negroni was born. Traditionally a trifecta of equal parts gin, Campari and Italian-style sweet vermouth, the Negroni in this recipe replaces the gin with another great regional spirit, Square One Botanical. Based out of Novato, Calif., this organic distillery has been producing eco-friendly products for almost five years. In this concoction, we will be infusing their botanical vodka with seasonal cranberries and maple syrup'”the addition of which provides a tart-berry richness to the dry, spicy character of the early 20^th-century classic, Campari.

Behemoth’s Claret $3.25/drink
750 ml Square One Botanical Spirit $35
750 ml Campari $21
1 liter Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth $25
2 cups fresh cranberries $2
3 tsp maple syrup $1
2 oranges $1

Cranberry-Infused Botanical Spirit Instructions:
To infuse the cranberries and maple syrup into the spirit, you will need to prepare a week in advance. In a small sauce pan, combine cranberries and maple syrup and heat over medium flame for about 10 minutes or until 75% of the berries have burst. You will need a larger, sealable container to let the booze steep in (I suggest using that growler from your favorite local brewery). Pour the cranberry mixture and the Square 1 into the container and store in a cool, dry place for a week. After said week, strain infusion through a chinois or at least a fine mesh strainer and pour back into the original bottle. There will be a few ounces that won’t fit, but you can use those for a quick 'œtaste test.'

Drink Instructions:
Step 1: Combine 1.5 oz infused Square One Botanical Spirit, .75 oz Campari and .75 oz Carpano Antica in a cocktail shaker and add ice.

Step 2: Stir steadily and evenly so as not to bruise the spirits, and pour into a chilled martini glass

Step 3: Garnish with a peel of orange twisted over your delicious new beverage.

Step 4: Drink like royalty

Choc-tee!