Courtesy Max Green, senior barman, Amor y Amargo, New York City
Leonetto Cappiello, widely regarded as the father of modern advertising, created this iconic image in 1906. The “green devil” in this poster represents absinthe, which Maurin made until its production was outlawed in the U.S. in 1912. After that, the brand created cherry-flavored Maurin Quina, which still exists today.
The Night Terror
A wine infused with wild cherries and quinine, and fortified by a touch of cherry brandy, Maurin Quina has a flavor some liken to cherry marzipan. For this recipe, Green riffed on a Black Manhattan to showcase Maurin’s cherry note.
“When making this cocktail, I was thinking about the devil’s prominence on the bottle and in this poster,” says Green. Another bottle on the shelf seemed a perfect fit. “According to legend, Empress Catherine the Great of Russia became ill during a visit to Latvia, but was cured after drinking Riga Black Balsam, ‘saving her from the devil, in essence.’ ”
Published: April 5, 2018
Ingredients
Directions
Add all ingredients into mixing glass. Stir, then strain into chilled coupe glass. Garnish with sprig of thyme or lime peel laid across the rim of the glass, if desired.
