Dark Bird – Willett Family Reserve
This is the last article and drink from my series of American Whiskey based cocktails. This time I came up with a drink loosely based on Sam Ross’s Paper Plane. However, apart from the lemon juice, I basically changed all the ingredients.
First, I replaced the bourbon with the Willett Family Reserve Rye. Since this quite powerful rye whiskey needs some stronger pairing than Aperol, I went for the gentian flavoured Ciane. I guess you could also use Bonal or Salers here, too. Apart from that I also changed the Amaro.
Less sweet, but not too bitter
Instead the Amaro Nonino, which is great, but quite sweet for my taste, I used the Cappelletti Amaro Trentino. This turns out to be one of my favourite Amari. Its flavour profile is similar to the Nonino or to Amaro Montenegro, but it is less sweet and a touch more bitter. At the same time, it is not at overwhelming as other Italian herbal liqueurs.
3 cl Ciane Gentian Liqueur
3 cl Cappelletti Amaro Trentino
3 cl Lemon Juice
Garnish: Lemon Wheel; Song: The Tallest Man on Earth – Dark Bird is Home;
The “Dark Bird” really reminded me of the Paper Plane in flavour. Yet, after a short while the spiciness from the rye and the earthiness from the gentian liqueur take over. The Cappelletti combined with the acidity from the lemon balance the drink out. All in all, this is a great, more “grown-up” and drier Paper Plane variation.
