Let’s take a sip of
Armando’s Honeylion cocktail using Cathead's Honeysuckle vodka and Three Tavern's Single Intent Belgian-style ale!
In the first
installment of Cocktails With Ale, I
featured an in-depth interview with the co-founder of Cathead Vodka, Richard
Patrick, here. We had a ball
discussing the history of Cathead’s burgeoning vodkas, the trickery of the spirits
industry, and his venture’s altruistic support of particularly Mississippi’s
historic blues scene.
Now, using the Cathead Honeysuckle as the chief
ingredient, I challenged the co-owner of one of Atlanta’s hottest craft beer
bars—the Argosy’s Armando Celetano—to invent a cocktail
with Richard’s cherished product and an award-winning local brew I picked out to
embrace the oncoming spring. With ThreeTavern’s Single Intent Belgian-style ale and Cathead’s Honeysuckle in front
of him, Armando created the “Honeylion”; he fused the Honey in Honeysuckle and a dandelion which represents the coming of
spring. His biz partner Donald Durant
(below) looked on as “A-Plus” showed off his mixing skills.
After tasting it
on a sunny afternoon in East Atlanta Village, I was honestly impressed with the
Honeylion’s refreshing balance of sour and sweet from the Limoncello Luxardo and Honeysuckle; Single Intent’s subtle spiciness; plus
the spritzy mouthfeel the ale and soda water provide. Overall, if I could
describe it, think of an organic version of Sprite with a splash of honey, an
herbal nose, and potent 70-proof kick of premium vodka.
Here are the
play-by-play highlights of my homey Armando making his signature Honeylion
cocktail which will be available at the Argosy to help you sip in the new
season.
First, pour 1.5
ounces of Cathead Honeysuckle in a mixing cup.
Add one ounce of
Limoncello Luxardo.
Squeeze a
quarter of a lemon.
Add a dash of
Regan’s Orange Bitters.
Add ice.
Shake it like a
Polaroid picture. (Actually, a lot more vigorously.)
Pour, add about two ounces of soda
water, and float some of
our locally brewed Three Taverns Single Intent. Watch the colors blend. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel. Enjoy!
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| Photo by Argosy's Emily L. Beck Cheers to ya from Donald, Ale, Armando, Cathead and Three Taverns! |
Look for another
installment of Cocktails With Ale
soon! Who knows what spirit and cocktail will make history next?!