LOTR

LOTR

A toast to Tolkien and the LOTR, boxes and books and all, requires something bespoke. LOTR cocktails are popular – there are plenty of creative barkeeps like me who love books out there. But I don’t tend to like the styles of drinks that surface when searched. The one ring ... er, drink, I once found which I liked, the Bilbo Baggins, has been featured here already. I’ve created other Lord of the Rings cocktails, but it struck me that I hadn’t yet created an actual LOTR cocktail. It was time.

good lord

I’ve also said it before, that using letters, such as “LOTR”, to make a cocktail, is never a good idea. Unless it ends up working out as planned. I got this recipe from a hobbit, and hobbits are always full of surprises. I imagined a proper LOTR cocktail would need to have Scotch, and in particular something with a nice peat smoke to it. It would taste like a warm hobbit hole in the Shire, full of dwarves planning a mountain raid, or perhaps, like the smoky fires of Mount Doom at the end of an epic journey. It might have notes of bittersweet nostalgia for a time long past, from a dream almost forgotten. If you look closely, you might barely recognize the elements of a Negroni, but, you might not. If you need me, I’ll be at the Prancing Pony – cheers.

a fine fellowship

LOTR

1 ½ oz Talisker

¾ oz Ramazotti

¾ oz Lillet

dash orange bitters

dash of water

Stir ingredients together with ice and strain into an adventurous glass.

adventure awaits: