Drink In The Fall

Pomegranates used to remind me of fall.  Then POM came on the scene with its now ubiquitous pomegranate juice, that seemed to be at the leading edge of the almost over pomegranate fad.

Now they remind me of the flavor du jour.

But despite what the pomegranate growers and juicers and processors associations would have you believe, it’s a fall fruit, dammit.  It goes back to the ancient Greeks.  You must remember some of the mythology you learned in middle school.

So pomegranates are a fall fruit.
And the fall in upstate New York is all about apples.
That, and raking.

Luckily for all of us, there is a delicious classic cocktail that combines these two fruits into a delightful drink.

It’s called the Jack Rose cocktail.  And you are in luck, because I am not going to tell you about it.  Instead, I’ll let my favorite retired cocktail columnist give you the story.

As sad as I was to hear that Eric Felten retired, I am a bit gladdened that his articles are now freely accessible.  To celebrate, you should read what he wrote on this drink.  In fact I am going to make you go there to get the recipe too.  This is how strongly I support Mr. Felten’s work.

Now go read, and when you are ready, I’m going to lay two additional things on you.

The pomegranate comes in the form of grenadine.  If this comes as a surprise to some, that’s because most commercial grenadine, such as Rose’s (and even Fee’s), is an abomination that tastes nothing like the real thing.  I promise that if you tune in next Friday, I will post a relatively easy way to make grenadine that has deep and true pomegranate flavor at home.

The apple comes from apple brandy.  Mr. Felten suggests using Calvados.  And generally I agree with him, but here I am parting ways.  The obvious choice is Laird’s Applejack, which makes a perfectly good drink.  However, our very own Harvest Spirits has what looks like an incredible applejack in the works, which I am very much looking forward to sampling.

Perhaps if anyone is going out there September 19 for the festival, they can talk their way into getting a barrel sample of the stuff.  Sadly I will not be able to make it.  But I’m counting down the days until November.

The leaves are starting to drop.  Every day I hear more geese flying south.  It’s time to stock up.  Get a bottle of the Laird’s, some lemons, a bottle of pomegranate juice and a whole mess of sugar this week.  And by next weekend, you’ll be all set to enjoy my favorite fall cocktail.