Alaska (Old Tom)

COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS:
- 45 ml Old Tom Gin
- 15 ml Yellow Chartreuse
- 1 dash Orange Bitters

GARNISH:
- Twist of Lemon

INSTRUCTIONS:
• Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing glass.
• Add cracked ice and stir for 30-45 sec. or approx. 60 revolutions.
• Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
• Express lemon peel oil over the cocktail.
• Garnish with a lemon twist.

Cocktail author: at this point it is not entirely clear who made this cocktail first or why it is called Alaska.

Alaska is a tasty spirit forward cocktail with a herbaceous kick. It first appeared in a cocktail book around the beginning of the 1900s and called for a slightly sweeter and less juniper forward Old Tom style gin. Its, probably, better known successor appeared in “The Savoy Cocktail Book” in the 1930’s where it made a switch for London dry gin, completely altering the taste profile of the drink. Naturally I wanted to try the original recipe, since in my experience, there is a reason why old time cocktails call for a specific style of gin.

All in all, Alaska is a simple three ingredient cocktail, combining sweet, earthy, perhaps slightly citrusy notes of Old Tom gin with herbal, honey notes of yellow Chartreuse, finished off by a dash of orange bitters bringing it all together.  Expressing lemon peel oils over the cocktail to get that fresh citrus fragrance is a must, it will absolutely elevate your cocktail experience of this deceptively simple drink.

Alaska is a perfect heartwarming cocktail, for this time of the year. Enjoy.

Source material:
https://www.liquor.com/recipes/alaska/