Return Of The King Recipe
Aquavit, Lairds, Averna, Becherovka, Amontillado, orange bitters
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Ingredients
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Cocktail
Garnish
Method
Cocktail
- 1
- 2
Combine spirits
In a mixing glass add 1.25 oz aquavit, 0.5 oz Laird's apple brandy, 0.5 oz Averna, 0.25 oz Becherovka and 0.5 oz Amontillado sherry.
- 3
Add bitters and syrup
Add 2 dashes orange bitters and 0.25 oz brown sugar simple syrup to the mixing glass to balance bitterness and bring a touch of sweetness.
- 4
Stir with ice
Fill the mixing glass with large ice (enough to chill without diluting too quickly). Stir gently but thoroughly for 30–45 seconds (about 20–30 full rotations) until the mixture is well chilled and slightly diluted — about 15–20% dilution is typical for spirit-forward stirred cocktails.
- 5
Strain
Dump the ice or water from the chilled serving glass. Double-strain the cocktail from the mixing glass into the chilled coupe using a Hawthorne or julep strainer and a fine mesh strainer to catch any small shards of ice or sediment.
Garnish & Finish
- 6
Express the oil of an orange twist over the surface of the cocktail by holding the twist oil-side down about 3–4 inches above the drink and giving it a firm squeeze to release the citrus oils. Run the twist around the rim and drop it into the drink. Optionally, garnish with a Luxardo cherry on a pick laid across the glass.
- 7
Serve immediately. The cocktail is spirit-forward with aromatic herbaceous notes from the aquavit and Becherovka, bitter-sweet depth from Averna and Amontillado, and a rounded warmth from Laird's — the orange bitters and twist lift the aromatics and tie the flavors together.