I came up with this cocktail at the request of that Ambassador of Americana, Charles Phoenix. At the time, we were planning a podcast for the Test Kitchen section of his wonderful site. There was a kitschy recipe for a party platter that resembled a clown/circus theme that we were going to construct, and I suggested we should have an equally festive cocktail to go with the party theme. It needed to be tasty, but not too sweet, and have every kitschy Tiki-style garnish I could think of. Originally I called it the Clown Cooler, but we ended up shooting the podcast later in the year and by that time we had abandoned the circus theme. Henceforth, the cocktail became the Phoenix Cooler in honor of Mr. Phoenix. It’s as kitschy and colorful as he is, and it’s quite tasty as well.

The Phoenix Cooler

• 2 oz white rum
• 1.5 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 oz blueberry concentrate or syrup (available at IKEA)
• 1/2 oz orgeat
• Thinly sliced strawberry, lime and lemon
• Luxardo cherry
• Umbrella pick for garnish

Add all ingredients to a bar glass filled with ice and stir well. Strain into a Collins glass filled with crushed ice. Stack the strawberry, lemon and lime slices as well as the Luxardo cherry and pierce with the stem of an umbrella pick for garnish.