“We’ve been flaying our enemies for a thousand years. The flayed man is on our banners!”
~ Ramsey Bolton
The battle for Winterfell begins with the "Battle of the Bastards" episode this Sunday. When you have a battle in the Land of Ice and Fire, where the weapons are pretty much up close and personal, there's going to be a lot of smashing going on so I thought a smash style cocktail would be fairly appropriate. (If you're not too sure what a smash style cocktail, buy my book The Zen of Cocktails, you'll find the definition in the Categories Schmategories chapter.)
I also like the idea of a Smash cocktail because I dearly want to see Jon Snow and his Wildling army defeat and smash the living hell out of Ramsay Bolton. It's time for one less bastard in Westeros ... and it had better be Ramsey.
Jon Snow (good bastard) Ramsey Bolton (bad bastard)
Since this is for Winterfell I decided that, despite it being summer, a more winter-ish fruit and herb would be appropriate for this cocktail. However, since it is summer, it also had to be cool and refreshing which a Smash, with its mound of crushed ice, definitely is.
WINTERFELL SMASH
The Wolves Will Come Again
INGREDIENTS:
3 Ounces Bourbon
2 Tablespoons Sauteed Apples
(recipe below)
1 - 2 Tablespoons Tarragon Apple Butter Syrup
(recipe below)
1-1/2 Teaspoons Tarragon Vinegar
Club Soda
Ice Cubes
Crushed Ice
Garnish: Apple wedges, Dusting Dried Tarragon
Tools: Muddler, Cocktail shaker
Glass: Old Fashioned
DIRECTIONS:
Muddle the sauteed apples, apple tarragon butter syrup and tarragon vinegar in the bottom of the cocktail shaker.
Add the ice cubes to your cocktail shaker, pour in the bourbon and shake until chilled.
Pour into a chilled old fashioned glass, pile in the crushed ice, top off with a splash of soda.
Add your apple garnish, a few extra sauteed apples, a dusting of some dried tarragon leaves and serve.
SAUTEED APPLES & TARRAGON APPLE BUTTER SYRUP
This recipe creates both the sauteed apples and the Tarragon Apple Butter Syrup.
For each cocktail saute half a cubed red delicious apple in 1 tablespoon of butter, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, a splash of bourbon and 1/2 teaspoon of dried tarragon. Cook on medium until the apples are softened and the sauce has reached a syrup consistency. Cool to room temperature before adding to your cocktail.
“My father told me big men fall just as quick as little ones, if you put a sword through their hearts.”
~ Jon Snow
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY
