First published in George Kappler’s 1895 book of Modern American Drinks, the Widow’s Kiss is a beautifully complex assemblage of 4 simple ingredients. Kappler’s original recipe reads as:
Widow’s Kiss
“A mixing-glass half-full fine ice, two dashes of Angostura bitters, one-half a pony of yellow chartreuse, one-half a pony of Benedictine, one pony of apple brandy; shake well, strain into a fancy cocktail glass, and serve.”
If you choose to follow his original proportions a pony is equal to approximately 1 Ounce.
In the decades that have followed, bartenders tinkered with the proportions and we suggest that you do as well to tailor the drink to your own taste. We tried more than a few combinations and found the measures below better play to the contemporary palate, the outcome being a little drier and a little stronger. Cheers!
Widow’s Kiss (2)
In a shaker glass filled with ice add:
- 2 Ounces of Apple Brandy (We used Laird’s 7-1/2 Year Old Applejack)
- 1/2 Ounce Yellow Chartreuse
- 1/2 Ounce Benedictine
- 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
Stir gently to chill ~ strain into chilled stemmed cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry (optional).
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