Naked and Famous

In his description of the puzzle, Eric points out that a box with no top will, by definition, also have no bottom.  Which brings us to the “Naked and Famous”, a cocktail by 2012's Best American Bartender of the Year while at Death and Company, a legendary, landmark bar in New York City.  The founders at “Death & Co.” describe their name as originating from the fall out after the Volstead act in 1919, commonly known as “prohibition”.  During those dark days, to drink alcohol was to dwell with death and his companions.  Created by mixologist Joaquin Simo, the Naked and Famous pays homage to the classic Last Word cocktail (mentioned previously here) and the Paper Plane, a modern cocktail, with a unique mixture of mezcal, Aperol, yellow Chartreuse and lime juice.  Simo comments that the drink is "the bastard child born out of an illicit Oaxacan love affair" from these two cocktails - oooh.  

The Naked and Famous cocktail by Joaquin Simo

This combination balances perfectly to create a completely new, richly satisfying drink.  It’s also a vibrant reddish orange color which matches nicely with the paduak wood on the Topless Box.  The color is mostly due to the Aperol, Campari’s lighter, more approachable sister aperitif.  Aperol has bright, grapefruit and herbal flavors which are lovely on their own with sparkling water and shine in cocktails like the Naked and Famous.  So whether you are going bra less, topless, or naked, if it’s for a good cause, cheers to that.

Topless or Naked? Cheers!

Naked and Famous by Joaquin Simo

3/4 oz mezcal

3/4 oz Yellow Chartruese

3/4 oz Aperol

3/4 oz lime

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a favorite glass.