Widow's Kiss
A rich, herbal after-dinner drink of apple brandy, yellow Chartreuse and Bénédictine with a touch of bitters.
Ingredients
- Apple brandy, Calvados preferred, for depth and earthy apple notes45 ml
- Yellow Chartreuse, for herbal sweetness and complexity22.5 ml
- Bénédictine, honeyed and lightly spiced22.5 ml
- Aromatic bitters (Angostura)e.g. Angostura2 dashes
- Cocktail cherry, to garnish (optional)1 whole
Method
- Chill the glass in the freezer, or fill it with iced water for a few minutes and pour the water away before use.
- Pour the apple brandy, yellow Chartreuse, Bénédictine and bitters into a mixing glass half filled with ice.
- Stir calmly for 30–45 seconds (about 60 turns), until cold and lightly diluted.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a cocktail cherry, if you like.
George Kappeler, 1895
About this drink
The Widow's Kiss first appeared in George Kappeler's Modern American Drinks in 1895, when monastery liqueurs such as Chartreuse and Bénédictine were exotic newcomers on the American bar. The fruit of apple brandy and the sweetness of the two honeyed herbal liqueurs make it a small indulgence in sweetness and spice, perfect for the colder months. The name suggests a drink strong and comforting enough to make even a widow smile.
