When the crowds have cleared, industry folk need little bit of a lift: enter the shift drink. Over at Southie spots Lincoln Tavern and Capo, Beverage Director Kevin Mabry usually goes for a cider-and-shot, but he switches things up with a Nautical Gin cocktail that plays up the spirit’s autumnal qualities. Here, he offers a bev that’ll be the apple of your eye at the end of the workday or whenever you need a sippable pick-me-up.
I want something cold and quick at the end of the night. If I can just crack an ice cold Magners open and slam that down with a shot of whiskey, that’s what I like. I don’t think there’s anything more American – it’s usually apple pie and baseball. For me, it’s apple cider and bourbon.
My head bartender at Capo made a mulled apple syrup and it was dynamite. When I tasted the Nautical Gin, I immediately thought it would make a really perfect pairing with the cinnamon.
When I think gin, I think summer, but what really stood out to me about Nautical was the amount of baking spices that came out on the palate. I thought it would be great to incorporate it into a fall-style cocktail.
Nautical also has great citrus qualities. So anyone that really likes a citrus cocktail, like an Aviation or a Last Word, it would be a nice bridge-crossing for them into gin.
We all had a little toast the other night with the Nauti Apple. There’s not much Nautical Gin left on the bar right now.
Nauti Apple
1.5 ounces Nautical Gin
1.5 ounces mulled apple syrup
0.5 ounce lemon
Dash absinthe
Dash Angostura Bitters
Shake ingredients together and strain into a martini glass. [Bartender says: General rule of thumb, anything with citrus is always shaken. Anything that’s all spirits is always stirred.] Garnish with apple slices.
