Probably not all that surprisingly, when I'm traveling I enjoy taking in the local tastes; when we were on Cape Cod last year, I found myself some Moxie, which purports to be an example of an early soft drink. It's a bit like a cola, but a bit like Dr. Pepper in that it seems to be made with a whole bunch of botanicals and herbs that give it a spicy, bitter character not dissimilar to Jägermeister.
I came home with a two-liter of it, but didn't want to drink it as I don't have a reliable supply. That is, until my brother and sister-in-law visited her grandma a couple weeks ago in Chatham, and brought me back a half case of the stuff. Jackpot! It's time to try a Moxie cocktail! With that, I present...
The New Englander
- Ice in rocks glass.
- Add 1.5oz. gin (I used Plymouth. It just seemed the right thing to do.)
- Top with Moxie.
- Float a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce.
I often think that New Englanders and Chicagoans are kindred spirits. Our propensity to engage in quixotic fan behavior for long-unsuccessful sports teams is one reason. Our mutual distaste for and borderline obsession with New York City is another. But I think the most important similarity is that we wear our mutual sufferings of some truly terrible winter weather like a badge of honor. That's this drink. It's a whirlwind of flavors in a glass that would make a lesser breed cringe. It's vegetal and sweet, but not enough to overpower the bitterness, which isn't strong enough to counteract the savoriness. It's a strange drink, for a strange people. I'm proud to think I'm the right kind of strange.
