Motor Wagon Cocktail
A stirred drink from The Hoffman House Bartender’s Guide (1905), the Automobile Cocktail consists of equal parts Scotch, Old Tom gin, and Italian vermouth, plus a little gum syrup and orange bitters. I took this template and subbed in apple brandy for the Scotch, using alpine amaro in place of bitters, and sweetening with fig syrup. It’s Martinez-esque, but feels perfect for November with apple and pronounced piney notes. “Motor wagon” was a term used by some early car makers.
INGREDIENTS
1 oz. apple brandy
1 oz. aged old tom
1 oz. Lillet rouge or sweet vermouth
¼ oz. alpine amaro
Heaping barspoon* fig syrup
4 drops saline or tiny pinch of salt
Lemon twist, for garnish
ABV LEVEL
Combine all in a mixing glass. Fill three-quarters full with ice and stir for 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with an expressed lemon twist.
*if using sweet vermouth instead of Lillet rouge, reduce the fig syrup, starting with half a barspoon and adding more to taste.