C and I were out the other night and heard a story about a murder that took place back in the 80’s.  Apparently, as an overreaction (to put it mildly) to a joke, a man shot another man in the back while leaving a bar…..more specifically the bar C and I were sitting in.  To make things worse, the shooter skipped bail and lived (got, married, had kids) in Mexico for years before recently being caught.  Justice is now being served and he will remain in jail for the next 60 years.  Upon hearing this story, C turns to me and excitedly says, “‘murder and mayhem’, that’s what this week’s cocktail can be called!”  One of the reasons I love this man, his deep compassion.

My first thought was to do a Bloody Mary but I’m glad I let the idea marinate for a couple of days, I think you’ll love what I came up with WAY better.

The phrase ‘murder and mayhem’ had me thinking about all of those people who avoid their family, who really don’t want to go home for the holidays and who probably, at one point or another, have visions of (instead of sugar plums) killing somebody in their family.  And what better way to do that than with poison?  That led me to amaretto, which tastes like almonds…. and anybody who has seen or read a mystery knows that when you’re poisoned with cyanide you emit the smell of bitter almond.  So I had the spark for creating this drink and I was off to the races.

I feel like this is a good time to mention that I really love my family.  In fact my sisters and I (sorry N!) still have a slumber party at my parent’s house on Christmas Eve…C joins us too.  I’m a lucky girl that my very best friends happen to be family.  MUAH!!

So, without further ado, here is the recipe….do yourself a favor and make one immediately.

Murder & Mayhem (makes one serving)

Ingredients

• 1/2 a lime (plus a slice for garnish)
• 2 ounces amaretto (I used Disaronno, obviously)
• 1.5 ounces brandy
• .5 ounces cherry liquor (I used Heering Cherry Liquor)
• Black cherry club soda
• Fresh cherries for garnish
• Ice

Instructions

• Squeeze 1/2 a lime into a cocktail shaker, throw limes into the serving glass (use a Collins glass)
• Cut 4 cherries (removing pits) and add them to the bottom of the serving glass
• Add the amaretto, brandy, cherry liquor and ice to the shaker and shake (like I’ve said before….shake the shit out of it, shake the ever-living-shit out of it, then kill it…basically shake it way more than you think you should)
• Add ice to the serving glass and pour in the contents of the shaker
• Top the glass with black cherry club soda, stir gently
• Garnish with a slice of lime and a couple of cherries

Do a festive toast and then leave a comment letting me know what you think of this cocktail!

Here’s to an enchanted weekend and an even more enchanted Christmas.

XOXO