Properly Sauced: Neko's Case

By Rob Christopher in Food on Sep 15, 2010 5:20PM

We heart Neko in a big, big way. Middle Cyclone and Fox Confessor Brings the Flood are two albums we never grow tired of spinning and we decided the smart-and-sultry chanteuse deserves a cocktail of her own. We figured it ought to have bourbon in it. High-proof bourbon. After fiddling with various components in various proportions, the end result was ...

Neko's Case

• 2 1/2 oz. Old Grand-Dad 100 proof bourbon
• 3/4 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 oz. orgeat
• 3 dashes grapefruit bitters

Place a large lump of ice in a 7 oz. tumbler. Shake ingredients in an iced cocktail shaker and strain into the glass.

The bourbon's bite is softened by the interplay of citrus flavors, and a slightly creamy mouthfeel courtesy of the orgeat. (By the way, we heartily recommend Trader Tiki's orgeat.) But the grapefruit bitters are the secret ingredient. Pick up a bottle at Drinks over Dearborn or via Fee Bros.

Ideally you'd sip this at twilight in a burned-out shack on the edge of the woods. Allow us to quote Neko herself: this is a drink that's "cold and shivering warm."