The Mezzrole Cocktail
I’m a huge fan of Manhattan-style cocktails; they make great aperitifs. This one is named after Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, a jazz musician who lived in Harlem in the 1920s. And, as Mezz himself would have known, the term for a well-rolled cannabis cigarette was a “mezzrole”—so I just had to commemorate both man and medicine in this elegant cocktail. It combines cannabis-infused sweet vermouth, handmade cocktail cherries, and quality bourbon into a small, but well-formed, libation that’s deeply healing. When you’re infusing your vermouth, consider choosing a Sativa-Indica hybrid strain called Cherry Pie. It’s redolent of sweet and sour cherries, and it complements the toasty, oaky flavors inherent in the liquors. As for making crushed ice, it’s best to place the ice in a Lewis bag—a heavy canvas bag that’s made for the job—before whacking it with a wooden mallet or rolling pin.
Servings: 1 person
Author: Warren Bobrow
- 4 Greenish Cocktail Cherries
- 1/2 oz Cannabis-infused Vermouth
- Seasonal Wildflower Blend
- Handful of Ice
- 1 oz Bourbon Whiskey
- Aromatic Bitters
Muddle the Greenish Cocktail Cherries with a wooden muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon.
Top with the vermouth.
Continue to muddle for 30 seconds to combine the flavors.
Cover with the crushed ice.
Top with the bourbon.
Dot with aromatic bitters.