There is a puzzle box that is so devilish to open you might say it will give you some serious “separation anxiety”. It affirms my motto that “a good cocktail isn’t puzzling, but a good puzzle might just make you need one”. So let’s indulge that sentiment, shall we?

This time of year is great for bourbon and autumn flavors. The Lion’s Tail is a perfect classic cocktail for the season. It features allspice liqueur (also called "pimento dram", because allspice is the dried berry of the pimenta dioica tree, not because it has anything to do with red peppers, of course, but I digress) which evokes flavors of allspice, cinnamon, clove and cardamom in a rum base. Delicious but potent; a little goes a long way. Add that to bourbon and lime for a very satisfying sip which first appeared in the "Cafe Royal Cocktail Book" by William J. Tarling in 1937. To "twist the lion's tail" was to act particularly "British," suggesting this cocktail was the result of a prohibition era London-based expatriate, or so the prevailing theory goes.

I substituted Besamim, an unusual spirit from Los Angeles which is infused with a mixture of similar spice flavors including cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Besamim (which means “spice”) is traditionally associated with the “Havdalah” ceremony, which symbolizes “separation” – the word Havdalah translates as “separation”. Swapping this liqueur in the Lion’s Tail cocktail might not really justify a new name, but we mixologists will use any excuse, really. Besamim liqueur is made by the same artisanal distillery (Sukkah Hill Spirits) which created Etrog liqueur, another very unusual flavor that I featured in the Harvest Highball. Let this Lion's Tail variation, which I call the “Separation Anxiety” cocktail, calm your nerves as you attempt to separate and solve all of life’s puzzles. Cheers!

Separation Anxiety:

2 oz bourbon

½ oz Besamim liqueur

½ oz fresh lime juice

½ oz demerara syrup

2 Dashes Angostura bitters

Shake ingredients together over ice and strain into a favorite glass. Extremely frustrating puzzle box optional.

For more information about this devilishly difficult puzzle box and to read the full article see:

Boxes and Booze: Separation Anxiety