Widows Kiss Cocktail #Shorts
This cocktail is from our full Yellow Chatreuse video. Watch it here:
#Cocktail #Chartreuse #Alchemix
Widow’s Kiss | Recipe and Lore | Alchemix | Cocktails
How to make a Widow's Kiss
This Cocktail is a part of a full week long deep dive on Yellow Chartreuse.
Sign up for the Alchemix Almanac. A weekly Newsletter about Cocktails and Spirits:
#Alchemix #Cocktail #WidowsKiss
Get the Chartreuse Cocktail Book Here:
We do our best at Alchemix to deliver the most accurate history possible within the murky and hazy realm of cocktail history. By and large, the reason why that is possible is because of the historical writings of David Wondrich, undoubtedly the best Cocktail Historian to ever live and one of the last great Journalists in any field.
At Alchemix, we consider both Punch and Imbibe mandatory reading for high level bartenders and anybody interested in Cocktail History. Please consider buying the books through our affiliate links below in which we make a small commission. It’s a great way to support the show!
Punch:
Imbibe:
The Alchemist
George Kappeler.
The Poison,
Angostura Bitters
2 Dashes
Benedictine
.75oz/22ml
Yellow Chartreuse
.75oz/22ml
Calvados
1.5oz/45ml
Glassware
Cocktail Glass
The Alchemy,
In a mixing glass, add bitters, Benedictine, Yellow Chartreuse, and Calvadose in that order. Ice your glass. Stir. Strain into a Cocktail Glass. Imbibe.
The Lore,
George J. Kappeler was a German barman who worked at the Holland House while the first cocktail revolution was blossoming at the turn of the century. It was there that he invented the Widow’s Kiss and published it in his own Modern American Drinks in 1895. As to the widow he's referring to, nobody knows.
The Philosophy,
Kappeler was one of the first barmen to publish a cocktail with the use of Yellow Chartreuse or a cordial at all for that matter as they were not yet widely used at that time.
The Era,
1985. The beginning of the first cocktail revolution.
The Geology,
‘Holland House hotel at Fifth Ave and Thirteenth Street.’ - David Wondrich, imbibe!
The Essence,
This cocktail is best described by the following quote:
‘It is a cocktail of fall turning toward winter.’ - Ted Haigh. Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails.
The herbaceousness makes this drink shine. As David Wondrich highlights in imbibe!, it was a bold move using a split liqueur in a cocktail at that time. The Apple Brandy doubles down on the sweetness, also found in the Benedictine and Yellow Chartreuse. And with a nice acidic balance of Angostura Bitters. This is a beautifully balanced cocktail. Though we should give the one caveat that, as mentioned above, there is absolutely a seasonality to this cocktail. Not recommended for the summer, but a great drink.
Widow's Kiss Cocktail - The Cocktail Spirit with Robert Hess - Small Screen
up for the Small Screen Email Newsletter:
Be the first to know when new episodes air on our site!
The Widow's Kiss is a fairly old cocktail, dating back to around 1895. This was during a time when a new age of cocktails were coming into existence as bartenders were letting it expand beyond it's previously held definition of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters. They were experimenting with the use of vermouth (and hence the Martini and Manhattan), as well as various herbal liqueurs which would have previously been simply sipped neat. The Window's Kiss doubles up on it's elixir content by using both Chartreuse and Benedictine. If you can only find green Chartreuse and not yellow, you can substitute it if you cut back on it by about a third.
Watch on Small Screen:
Recipe:
2 oz Calvados
1 oz Yellow Chartreuse
1 oz Benedictine
dash Angostura Aromatic Bitters
Instructions:
Stir with ice.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Widow's Kiss - The Right Stuff! Whether the old or new.
Time to go full-on Francophile with Calvados, French apple brandy, and 2 French liqueurs. Benedictine and Yellow Chartreuse. George Kappeler, a bartender from the Holland House Hotel, published the recipe for the Widow’s Kiss in his collection of Modern American Drinks in the 1890s.
I’ve made 2 versions of the drink here. One which has the original ratios, and one where the herbal liqueurs are toned back a bit letting the Calvados shine through more clearly. Depending on your comfort with Chartreuse and Benedictine the adjusted “modern” version may be more to your liking. The original, however, is a drink to behold. It’s a fantastic balance between each of the ingredients, Calvados coming in full gallop at the front and the sweetness of the liqueurs rounded out by just a touch of bitterness.
As I was checking out the recipe an album by Robert Calvert of Hawkwind came to mind. Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters. A satirical look at the Lockheed Starfighter F-104 that the Luftwaffe used from the 60s through to the 80s. It was nicknamed the “Widowmaker” due to the number of crashes and pilots killed. If you‘ve not heard it, check it out. Some excellent tunes.
Cheers, and enjoy your Widow’s Kisses.
WIDOW’S KISS
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 oz (2 oz) Calvados (Apple Brandy)
3/4 oz (1/4 oz) Benedictine
3/4 oz (1/4 oz)Yellow Chartreuse
2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
GARNISH
Maraschino Cherry
METHOD
Stir all ingredients in mixing glass until chilled. Strain in to coupe/cocktail glass. Garnish with maraschino cherry.
@benedictineliqueur @chartreuse.fr @chartreuse_uk @chartreuse1605 @ferrandcognac @angosturahouse
#widowskiss #calvados #brandy #ferrandcognac #applebrandy #benedictine #benedictineliqueur #chartreuse #chartreuse1605 #maraschino #angostura #bitters #angosturahouse #starfighter #hawkwind
#hitthemahogany #martini #classic #cocktails #cocktailporn #cocktailhour #cocktailtime #mixology #cocktailsofinstagram
Music by @peyruismusic
00:00 Intro
00:38 Background
01:25 Mixing
04:30 About the Widowmaker (Starfighter F-104)
07:32 Back to mixing
08:55 Tasting
Make the Widow's Kiss: a classic cocktail deep-dive (fall flavors!)
Today I’m making a classic cocktail - the Widow's Kiss! I'll make this one 3 ways, because it's evolved over the years. The original recipe dates back to 1895 - it's a sweet drink that's dominated by herbal liqueurs (mixing with these liqueurs was a new and exciting thing back then). Now days it's common to see this drink with drier specs. Although I like this better, the ratios I prefer are somewhere in the middle. Give these a try, see what you like best - or feel free to balance the Widow's Kiss to your taste! Cheers!
Get these bottles from my collection on Curiada! ????
New customers use code ERICKSON for $5 off!
Use code ANDERS for free shipping on orders over $200!
Support the channel:
Patreon:
Video/editing/illustrations by Azusa Inaba ???? ????
TIME STAMPS
Intro: 0:00
The History: 1:09
The Booze: 3:48
2 Recipes: 4:36
Then vs Now: 5:45
My Recipe: 6:53
Sips: 7:34
Giveaway Winners: 8:32
THE WIDOW’S KISS RECIPE (mine) 6:53
1.5 oz. (45 ml) Laird’s Straight Applejack 86
1/2 oz. (15 ml) Bénédictine DOM
1/4 oz. (7.5 ml) Yellow Chartreuse
2 dashes Angostura Aromatic Bitters
Expressed lemon oil
THE TOOLS
My workhorse double jigger:
My favorite mixing glass:
Bar spoon:
Julep strainer: juicer:
My go-to large shaking tin:
My go-to small cheater tin:
Hawthorne strainer:
Fine mesh strainer:
Y Peeler:
Rubber bar mat (6x12):
The Nick & Nora Glass:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Special thanks to our top-tier patrons:
Adam Greetis
Jacob Swain
Brandon Carey
Randy Calegari
Follow Me:
Instagram:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Send stuff to:
Anders Erickson
4610 N. Clark St
Suite 1051
Chicago IL, 60640
How To Make A Widows Kiss Cocktail with Avallen Calvados
How To Make The Perfect Widows Kiss Cocktail with Avallen's Queen Bee and Tim Lefèvre.
Ingredients:
25ml Avallen Calvados
12.5ml DOM Benedictine
12.5ml Yellow Chartreuse
2dsh Angostura Bitters
Glass: Coupette
Method: Stir and strain
Garnish Float Mint Leaf on top
Get all the ingredients here so you can make one at home:
Find out more about Avallen: