In the Beginning
ABOUT
We just submitted our cocktail recipe for Black Restaurant Week’s virtual cocktail competition sponsored by Maker’s Mark! Our submission is a spin on the classic pre-prohibition cocktail the Last Word. To take this drink to the next level, we made our own homemade fig syrup. Check out the full recipe and our inspiration behind the drink below:
The fig is known to be the oldest cultivated fruit and can be seen throughout various cultures and religions. Adam and Eve are known for sewing together fig leaves to cover their nakedness after eating the forbidden fruit and Buddha is said to have achieved Bodhi (spiritual enlightenment) after sitting under the Bodhi Tree — a very large and very old sacred fig tree. Hence why we named our cocktail In the Beginning.
In fact, figs have helped to shape our world. With more than 1,200 species relying on this “keystone resource,” Ecologists claim that if figs were to disappear, our world would come crashing down. You can learn more on how figs have helped to shape human history here.
For this cocktail, we decided to stick with the four major flavor components of the Last Word: strong, sweet, herbal and sour. The base spirit — the strong component of our drink — is our Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky. Made with soft, red winter wheat and aged in constantly rotated barrels, Maker’s Mark offers a smooth, flavorful and full-bodied spirit.
For our sweet component, we wanted to use a fruit that was not only in season, but unique and bold. We decided on figs. After doing our research, we decided to experiment with two different types of sun-dried figs: Black Mission figs and Calimyrna figs. After making the syrups we noticed that the Black Mission figs were very jammy with balsamic undertones. The Calimyrna figs on the other hand were sweet and nutty with pleasant notes of vanilla. This made them a perfect pair with our bourbon. Our Calimyrna fig syrup paired perfectly with Maker’s vanilla, caramel and brown sugar notes.
The next component on our checklist was an herbal flavor. We opted for Amaro Averna — the herbal Italian liqueur. One of the most popular Italian digestifs, Averna is much sweeter than most other Amari. It’s thick, dark brown, and bitter sweet with underlying caramel notes. We just knew we had to incorporate Averna into this cocktail.
Lastly, we used freshly squeezed lemon juice to add some acidity and to balance the drink out. The resulting cocktail is the perfect balance of strong, sour, herbal and sweet.
This drink is served in a coupe glass. An fig slice garnish is optional
Recipe Type: Cocktails
Glassware: Coupe
Servings: 1
INGREDIENTS
3/4 oz. Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
3/4 oz. Amaro Averna
3/4 oz. Calimyrna fig syrup
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare Calimyrna fig syrup
Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker
Shake for 20 seconds or until shaker is frosty on the outside
Strain into a cocktail or coupe glass
Serve