Rubicon

Next up is one of my favorite pours and a really nice, but expensive, cocktail. It's called a Rubicon with bitters. We decided to shoot the process of making this so that you can impress your friends with your extremely classy bartending technique, your daredevil fire skills, and your big ol' fat wallet (allegedly). Of course you could make this without bitters (pictured left), but then you wouldn't be able to use your our homemade blow torch, which we know you are dying to try. So without further ado, the Rubicon...

This is what you'll need: Hendrick's gin, Luxardo Maraschino, green Chartreuse, a lemon, two healthy sprigs of rosemary, a pourer, a rocks glass, a juicer, a knife, a lighter and an atomizer filled with Angostura bitters.

First, bend a rosemary sprig into a wreath and place at the bottom of the glass.

Next pour a 1/2 to 3/4 ounce of Chartreuse into a pourer.

Bathe the rosemary wreath with the Chartreuse. Mmmmm!

Cut a lemon in half. You are going to make a modern Aviation in the meantime.

The lemon in half. Thank God Cindy doesn't have film cameras anymore.

Squeeze a half ounce of lemon juice in your pourer. Add it to a shaker with ice.

Measure out 1 1/2 ounces of gin. Add it to the shaker.

Add 1/2 ounce of maraschino to the shaker (and NO MORE!). Shake like hell. Let it sit for a brief moment.

Now return to your rosemary pool of Chartreuse. Grab your atomizer of bitters. Here comes the danger! Light a lighter and spray bitters through the flame into the glass. Your little blow torch should set the pool on fire. Try to get all the bitters to go into the glass, otherwise fire and a maroon dye will mar your countertop (or burn your house down).

Let your rosemary cook for a brief moment, but not burn. Grab your shaker with your Aviation mix. Pour it into your flaming pool to extinguish the fire.

Fill the rocks glass with crushed ice.

Oooooh, when done right, it's classy, cool, and absolutely tasty.

The final product with bitters...

...and without.

Here's the recipe in summary-


Rubicon

Classic Pour Series

1/2 ounce green chartreuse
1 1/2 ounce gin
1/2 ounce maraschino
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
Rosemary

Place a wreath of rosemary in an old fashioned glass. Bathe it in the chartreuse. In a shaker, add gin, maraschino, and lemon juice. Shake and set aside. Light chartreuse with a long lighter. Swirl glass to keep flame lit. Do not burn rosemary. To extinguish flame, pour the contents of the shaker into the old fashioned glass. Add crushed ice and garnish with an additional sprig of rosemary. Herby yumminess.

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