Miss American Pie
“LISTEN TO THE FLAVOURS” WAS THE THEME OF THE 2022 GIFFARD WEST CUP COCKTAIL COMPETITION. Crowley won the national finals and represented Canada proudly in Angers, France, with a cocktail inspired by her grandmother’s strawberry-rhubarb pie, paired with the Don McLean classic “American Pie.” For a seasonal twist, she infuses the port with cranberries in place of strawberries, making the drink tarter and slightly bitter. “It plays up the darker references in the lyrics,” says Crowley. “But, like the song, it’s meant to bring people together by taking them back to the good old days.”
INGREDIENTS
- 11⁄2 oz Giffard Rhubarb Liqueur
- 1⁄2 oz cranberry port*
- 1⁄2 oz bourbon
- 1⁄2ozrye
- 1⁄2 oz lemon juice
- 2 dashes black walnut bitters
- coconut sugar** (optional)
- dehydrated cranberries*** (optional)
METHOD
Combine liqueur, port, bourbon, rye, lemon juice, and bitters in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake well and double-strain into a Nick and Nora glass rimmed with coconut sugar. Garnish with dehydrated cranberries (optional).
*Combine 300 ml (11⁄4 cup) tawny port, 125 ml (1⁄2 cup) fresh cranberries, and 50 ml (1⁄4 cup) sugar in a saucepan on medium-high. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until the sugar dissolves. Strain into a jar and reserve in refrigerator.
**Combine equal parts sugar and desiccated coconut in a blender or food processor and pulse.
***Dehydrate cranberries at 140°F for 12 hours. If you don’t have a dehydrator, spread cranberries on a parchment-paper-lined pan and bake at the oven’s lowest temperature until dry.
