You may have read in Eye Weekly last week an interview with our sociable editor, Russell, who likes to boast about his old clothes. In the embarrassing photo, he was seen clutching a martini glass containing a murky amber liquid. That, dear readers, is our new creation: it’s a cocktail called The XYYZ. It’s based on a traditional drink called an XYZ, found in classic cocktail guides – we have added our own touch to explain the extra letter.
So far it’s available only at The Cobourg, our favourite bar in Cabbagetown (where the Eye picture was taken), but we are providing the recipe here so that you may create your own and be ahead of the trend that will no doubt sweep nightlife the continent over.
Here it is, the XYYZ cocktail:
1 and a half oz dark rum
1 tablespoon Triple Sec
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Shake with ice, strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a long orange twist.
This is a robust winter drink with a citrus tang, excellent for cold season and for seductive fireplace chats. A word of advice: try not to have too many before dinner.
By the way, if you are interested in cocktail lore, you will love Mark Kingwell’s new book of cultural analysis, Classic Cocktails: A Modern Shake. It’s a book mostly about literature, really, and the role of booze in it – but it also has practical recipes. It’s illustrated by the nostalgic Seth to look like a 40s cartoon. Excellent party-season reading.
