Anyone know how to make a merry ape???

Hey guys this is my first post in these forums, and I figured one of you would surely know the answer to this. I was at the Patterson House in Nashville tn, which is the violet hours supposed sister bar, and had the bartender pour me up a "dealers choice." he made something off the menu called a Merry Ape. I didn't have the chance to ask him exactly what was in it, but it was amazing and I'd like to recreate it at home. Any help would be appreciated!!!

Brian

Mixoholic wrote:Hey guys this is my first post in these forums, and I figured one of you would surely know the answer to this. I was at the Patterson House in Nashville tn, which is the violet hours supposed sister bar, and had the bartender pour me up a "dealers choice." he made something off the menu called a Merry Ape. I didn't have the chance to ask him exactly what was in it, but it was amazing and I'd like to recreate it at home. Any help would be appreciated!!!

Brian

1) Are you sure you heard the name correctly?

2) Can you provide any further info? Base spirit, modifier? How it was served or what it tasted like?

When you go dealer's choice at TVH and such you usually don't get something with a very long pedigree, unless you've got a bartender who really loves the classics. Quite frequently you get a creation the bartender is working toward placing on the next menu...something that no one would have heard of outside that bar.

I know the name is correct. It was whiskey/bourbon based, and was orange in color. It was served in a rocks glass with a ice sphere, and I think it had grapefruit bitters. It also had an orange twist, and had an overall citrus flavor. Everything else is a mystery. My best bet is prob asking the bartender himself, but the guys there are usually pretty busy and I feel like a jerk asking for the oz breakdown while they're trying to serve the rest of the bar. You're prob right regarding it being his own creation or something like that tho. I was hoping otherwise

So I think Ive broken it down to these ingredients, does anyone think any of these seem like they would conflict with each other? I'm planning on trying to recreate this this weekend...

Gin
aperol
Ginger syrup
mint
fees old fasioned bitters
lemon twist

all in a rocks glass with a single large cube

Mixoholic wrote:So I think Ive broken it down to these ingredients, does anyone think any of these seem like they would conflict with each other? I'm planning on trying to recreate this this weekend...

Gin
aperol
Ginger syrup
mint
fees old fasioned bitters
lemon twist

all in a rocks glass with a single large cube

Sounds tasty. The only thing that might be close to clashing would be the bitters, but I'm relatively sure it should work fine.

How is it constructed? Doesn't seem to be a need to shake, but if it's stirred, how is the mint incorporated? Just as a garnish?

I'm guessing it's shaken, one of the clues (other than the taste) were tiny mint flecks jn the drink. I originally ordered the drink as a dealers choice, and didn't get to see it getting made. I've had it once since, and the seeing as it was the bar tenders creation, the waitress didn't have any details to the contruction. Fine by me, it's fun to try to strengthen your palatte by trying to break things down anyways

I bet it makes the apes merry(sorry, couldn't resist). Where is the cheesy emoticon.

gooseberry wrote:I bet it makes the apes merry(sorry, couldn't resist). Where is the cheesy emoticon.

ha yeah, that was actually my final clue to the aperol...merry ape-rol