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“We all have to stand before the kitchen gods.” Chef Jacob Sahaya Kumar Aruni

Had a cigar-infused Manhattan at Nacional 27 tonight. With Hum standing in for Vermouth, this was a complex, satisfying drink. One of the best versions I've had.

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“We all have to stand before the kitchen gods.” Chef Jacob Sahaya Kumar Aruni

Last week I was totally falling asleep (from days and nights of eating, etc.) when my new buddy, Lance Mayhew of mylifeontherocks.com, dragged me to meet with Jean.Marie Battault, who runs a liquor manufactory outside Dijon. This guy was marvelous; so French, so gregarious, so full of spirit and language. The French, who I have always admired, talk a lot. A real lot. Which can be annoying or wonderful. In Jean’s case, it was wonderful. After he held forth for an hour or so, we drank some crème de cassis and marc. He sent me home with bottles of both.



So, tonight, without any Vermouth, I glanced at the bottle of his crème de cassis, and thought, why not?



It is an ideal substitute for Vermouth – in fact, it may become my standard, along with bourbon (perhaps, oddly, the least important element in the equation) and good bitters.

Wonder if I could substitute marc for Bourbon.

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“We all have to stand before the kitchen gods.” Chef Jacob Sahaya Kumar Aruni