In honor of “President’s Day” I made this smooth Negroni with a vermouth bianco, Bluecoat Gin and Cynar with a dash of Cardamon bitters.  Made in our founding city, Philadelphia, the birthplace of our independence, Bluecoat seemed a very fitting Gin for the occasion. 

The Gin:  Bluecoat American Dry Gin

The Vermouth: Cocchi Americano 

The Amaro: Amaro Cynar

More: Cardamom Bitters and Blood Orange Slice

Blue coats were of course the garb of George Washington’s continental army, when they could afford coats that is.  The American revolution was to a great degree won by a rag tag militia and many volunteers.

I bet, they would have enjoyed warming themselves with this drink on a cold winter night after a hard day on the battlefield.  

Bluecoat is made with 110% organic juniper berries and botanicals  and has a nice dry flavor with a spark of citrus at then end.  A winner of a “Double Gold Medal” as “Best Gin” in the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.  It is a favorite in our house.

We like using a “French” Style white vermouth, in our Negronis, but usually with red vermouth. In This drink the Cocchi Americano got to stand alone and it is beautiful. It has a nice open flavor that is enhanced by the Cardamom bitters and flows nicely across the tongue with the citrus touches of the gin and the orange slice.  

Cynar, an Artichoke based Amaro rounded out this drink to perfection.  It has nice bitterness with subtle herbal flavors. It is a frequent choice for our Negronis and it can also be used to make the “Little Italy” which is like this drink but with Rye in place of gin.

Recipe:

1 1/2 oz Bluecoat Gin

1 1/2 oz Cocchi Americano

1 oz Cynar

2 dots of Scrappy’s Cardamom Bitters

Stirred and served.

“God Bless America.”