Artichoke Hold

As much as we love tiki, we don’t limit ourselves to just one category of drink. One glance at our bar will tell you that we love everything from amaro to tequila, though it’s true that the rum collection dwarfs the other categories, and we can make a drink for any mood. That being said, it’s fun to make what we think of as “cross over” drinks, cocktails that could easily land in multiple categories. When we spotted the Artichoke Hold, we knew we had to give it a try.

The cocktail uses Cynar, St Germain, lime juice and orgeat, along with deeply funky Smith & Cross rum. It was billed as having a tiki feel to it, and while it’s definitely more of a palate primer than a main tiki attraction in our book due to the herbal complexity of the Cynar. The Cynar is also able to stand up well to the Smith & Cross, a rum that can overpower weaker ingredients. We felt like Giffard orgeat fared better here than other orgeats because of its sweetness and the strong orange flower note that pairs so well with the St Germain. If you’re in the mood for something bitter, it’s delicious and the rum makes a real statement in it.

Artichoke Hold
3/4 oz Smith and Cross rum
3/4 oz Cynar
1/2 oz St Germain
3/4 oz lime juice
1/2 oz Giffard orgeat
mint, for garnish

In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients. Shake vigorously until chilled, then strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Slap mint between the palms of your hands and garnish.