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Red roses have had the symbolic meaning of love for centuries, with the origins traced back to Greek mythology. Aphrodite is usually cited as the source, perhaps from her tears, and the red color from her blood or from the blood of her lover Adonis.

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I’ve paired Kawashima’s Rose Box with another Rose, a classic cocktail from the turn of the twentieth century. The Jack Rose first appears in print around 1905 but surely was a staple well before then. The drink features Applejack, a spirit which has roots deep in American history. Laird and Co., America’s oldest operational distillery and the producer of the best known version of Applejack, was founded in 1780. The Jack Rose makes an appearance in Hemmingway’s 1926 classic “The Sun Also Rises”, and I’m particularly fond of literary cocktails.

For this variation, I’ve split the traditional base of Applejack with some Japanese whisky. It adds a rich and smoky element, with notes of citrus and pear, to the drink, and enhances the apple flavor very nicely. To complement and reference the puzzle maker, I’ve named this version the “Hide and Seek”. Here’s to rich histories, classic symbols and sweet offerings. Cheers!


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Hide and Seek


1 oz Hakushu whisky
1 oz Laird’s Applejack
¾ oz fresh lemon
¾ oz fresh grenadine


Shake ingredients together with ice and strain into a favorite glass. Garnish with a citrus peel rose.
For more about the lovely Rose box see:

Boxes and Booze: By Any Other Name


For a prior Jack Rose:

You Don't Know Apple, Jack