Hobo Hogo

For TDN two weeks ago the theme was "Free Form", aka no holds barred, the old school way back in the day when Thursday Drink Night was just getting started. As David Wondrich reported a while back, there are some rums out there now that embrace, rather than shy away from, the funkiness that once marked rums of old. The particular funk that rum can have is known as "Hogo." The brawniest of the bunch, both in terms of Hogo and proof, is my favorite rum, Smith&Cross Traditional Jamaican Rum, in all it's pure pot stilled 114 proof glory. My favorite mixing rum anyway, for this one is not a sipper. Often the magic of sugar and lime is used to try to tame the Hogo in such spirits, but I wanted to embrace the funk so I chose to see what happens when the Smith&Cross is paired with the most funky of liqueurs, Luxardo Maraschino. I went with Meyer lemons mostly because they were in season and I was curious to try my hand with them, but I suspect either lime or regular lemons would work as well. I added some tiki bitters just for good measure, and the drink ended up with some rough edges which I enjoyed, much like I prefer the character in single malt scotches to blends.

Hobo Hogo

• 1½ oz Smith&Cross Rum
• ¾ oz maraschino
• ¾ oz Meyer lemon
• 2 dashes Bittermans 'Elemakule Tiki Bitters

shake and strain into chilled cocktail glass