The Real Lion

This one’s a shout out to the U.K. (I see you London 🇬🇧)!!

In 1937, W.J. Tarling compiles “The Café Royal Cocktail Book”, a collection of recipes that gives a glance at pre-WWII cocktail trends and culture. In here we find the Lion’s Tail; a drink that stands out not only because of its ingredients, but because it bridges the gap between something “refined” yet “inviting” and “warm”. It uses bourbon combined with allspice dram to give the flavor profile some real kick while the angostura adds more body. For those of us who haven’t tried it, allspice dram (aka pimento dram) is basically an allspice infused liqueur commonly associated with the Caribbean, particularly Jamaica 🇯🇲. If you enjoy cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, you’ll love this liqueur (most commonly seen is St. Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram).

Believe it or not, the Lion’s Tail fell into some obscurity until it was revived during the craft cocktail renaissance of the 2000s. Since then, people have been enjoying the spiritual variation of a whisky sour in niche bars around the world. Let’s get you one!!

Lion’s Tail:
-2oz bourbon
-0.5oz lime juice
-0.5oz allspice dram
-0.5oz simple syrup (modify depending on preferred sweetness)
- 1 dash angostura bitters

Shake and serve in a chilled coupe glass or on the rocks; garnish with an expressed orange peel or a lime twist.

Fun fact: it’s been implied (although never confirmed) the name of this cocktail alluded to a popular idiom: “Twisting the lion’s tail”. The Lion, being one of the main symbols of the country, represents Britain, while the expression itself is meant to be interpreted as “provoking the British Empire”. So in a way, a cocktail that features mainly American (bourbon) and Caribbean (dram) ingredients being served in London, a bit cheeky innit??

All jokes aside, while the Lion’s Tail has a very interesting story, let us not forget the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and how by His Grace and Love we are made new. The same way this drink brings together multiple cultures, so should we come together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Support each other, love each other, protect each other.

Saint Amandus of Maastricht, patron of innkeepers, wine merchants and hospitality, pray for us.