So Josh (a.k.a. @cocktailspirit) did a much more thorough write-up — you should go over and take a look — but I wanted to share the recipe for a cocktail we developed last night at The Cocktail Lab class at Astor Center, led by Jonathan Pogash. It was mighty tasty.
Pumpkin Pie
1/8 oz. Averna
1 1/2 oz. (ri)1 Rye Whiskey
1/4 oz fresh orange juice
1 barspoon pumpkin puree
1 barspoon maple syrup
1 dash pumpkin pie spice
2 dashes angostura bitters
1 egg white
Dry shake all ingredients first (shake w/ out ice) in a boston shaker. Then add ice and shake again very well. Strain into a cocktail coupe. Garnish with a flamed orange peel.
This was actually my second original cocktail. The first was basically an Aviation Cocktail with the inclusion of muddled concord grapes.
Concord Aviator
6-8 concord grapes
1 barspoon simple syrup
2 ounces London dry gin
½ ounce Maraschino liqueur
½ ounce lemon juice
Muddle the concord grapes and simple syrup in a mixing glass. Add the remaining ingredients, shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a concord grape.
Photo courtesy of Spirited Cocktails