In 1813, Joseph Noilly created his first recipe for what will become the immortal French dry vermouth, Noilly Prat. A whisper of Noilly Prat in gin is the quintessential Martini; no other recipe for a Martini will do here in the Firewater Lounge. But likely you have heard of and/or mix your own great Martinis. So, let's give you another classic but largely unknown drink that contains Noilly Prat, the complex and enigmatic 19, which is one of the few drinks in history named with a number. The subtle layers of sweet herb and fruit provide an interesting, some might say challenging, experience. The odd ingredient for most here is kirsch, which is morello cherry brandy. Dekuyper makes kirsch and it is widely sold in Wisconsin supermarket liquor stores. Also in the recipe is absinthe. If you do not have the money (or palate) for it, a dash of either Peychaud bitters, ouzo or another anise liqueur will do as a substitute.
19
Classic Pour Series
1 1/2 ounces Noilly Prat
3/4 ounces gin
3/4 ounces kirsch
4 dashes simply syrup
1 dash absinthe
Stir on ice. Strain. Imbibe. Decide if this is the drink for you.
The metallic gold color of the 19 is achieved by the heavy quotient of Noilly Prat and the oilness of the Herbsaint that I used for the anise (Absinthe will do the same, because most varieties are likewise oily.)
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