The Dead Heering

The Dead Heering

I’m cautiously raising a glass to toast the Dead Herring Box, Doog Menzie’s sequel to his Red Herring Box. For the RHB, which is full of red herrings, I created a red herring kind of cocktail, that looks just like fruit punch, but is of course a much tastier, and bitter, Negroni-esque drink. The cocktail had Campari, to lend the needed red coloring, and Cherry Heering, for a touch of needed sweetness that also plays with the theme. The “Red Heering” cocktail has a base spirit of Scandinavian aquavit, again to play off the herring theme. It’s a nice cocktail, inspired by a nice, if naughty, puzzle box.

raising the dead

Following the theme once again, the Dead Heering cocktail takes its cues from its predecessor. The Dead Herring Box was made to look identical to the box that preceded it, so I probably should have made an identical appearing cocktail as well, but I leaned into the dead over the red. Swapping Campari for the darker amaro Cynar gives the drink a more somber hue, and introduces richly sweet flavors of artichoke, herbs, brown sugar and chocolate. That might have been enough, but a little dose of the super bitter Fernet Branca really sealed the deal. I suppose I was feeling morose after killing that fish. I’m not sure which cocktail I like better, because like these puzzle boxes, they are both really good. Cheers!

a pair of Dead beats

Dead Heering

1 oz aquavit

¾ oz Cynar

½ oz Cherry Heering

½ oz Fino sherry

¼ oz Fernet Branca

Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a favorite glass over a large cube.

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