Bouchercon 2016 is this weekend, held in the New Orleans, Louisiana—a city with a rich history of cocktails and imbibing. There are so many great books up for an Anthony Award (including one of CrimeHQ's own bloggers' anthology, Protectors 2: Heroes by Thomas Pluck), we couldn't pick just one to give the ol' Pick You Poison treatment!
So for this week's Pick Your Poison—where we create a cocktail inspired by a recently published mystery, thriller, or crime novel—we decided to toast with a classic yet less-known New Orleans cocktail to honor the event. Here's to Bouchercon, the city of New Orleans, and to a kickass cocktail—laissez les bon temps rouler!
PICK YOUR POISON
“Brandy Crusta”
Ingredients:
– 2 oz. cognac or brandy
– 1/4 oz. Grand Marnier
– 1/2 oz. simple syrup
– 1/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
– 2 dashes Angostura bitters
– lemon peel (garnish)
– sugar (garnish)
How to make the cocktail:
- Rim a small wineglass with a lemon wedge and coat with sugar.
- Line the glass with a single, wide strip of lemon peel.
- Pour ingredients into mixing tin with ice and stir to chill.
- Strain into lemon-lined glass.
Congratulations to all of the nominees, and good luck tonight! Have a few “Brandy Crustas” and enjoy your time in NOLA—you've earned it!