pretty rye for a chi guy
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pretty rye for a chi guy
Back in 2016, I was working at @carsonkitchen when my beverage director was looking to make changes to the cocktail menu. At the time, I was in that stage of my career where I was experimenting a ton, and wanted to make that first leap into having a drink featured on the menu.
This cocktail was inspired by my newly discovered love for a Mai Tai and Southside, but knowing I wanted to bridge that gap with rye whiskey instead of rum or gin.
After tinkering with it on my own with just the whiskey, orgeat, mint, and lime, and I presented it to Matt to get feedback. There is a certain face he makes when he likes something: a gentle smirk, a second sip, and a generous “hm”.
We agreed it needed just a hint of something to set it off. He suggested velvet falernum: a ginger, lime and allspice fueled liqueur to really connect everything together. It was genius.
Taking inspiration from the Southside, a classic from Chicago, Matt also helped come up with the name, which was a subtle nod to the song “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)” by The Offspring. I loved it, he loved it. It made the menu, and also subsequent reappearances since.
The power of feedback and collaboration is potent.
Ingredients
7-10 mint leaves
0.25 oz | 7.5ml velvet falernum
0.5 oz | 15ml orgeat
0.75oz | 22.5ml lime juice
1.5oz | 45ml rye whiskey
Cocktail Directions
Combine all ingredients into a shaker tin, add ice, shake, and double strain into a rocks glass with a large block. Garnish with a mint bouquet.
