The Vavilov Affair

• 1oz Buffalo Trace Whiskey
• 1oz Calvados Pays d'Auge
• .25oz Vanilla Syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
• Juice from three thin slices of Granny Smith Apples

Stir and strain over a large ice cube.

This cocktail was named after Russian botanist Nikolai Vavilov, who traveled the world collecting seeds for one of the first seed banks.

He ran afoul of Joseph Stalin due to his beliefs on genetics which, though scientifically accurate, contradicted the party line. In prison he became known for giving scientific lectures to the other prisoners.

Ironically, he died of starvation as a prisoner of the Soviet union after dedicating his life to creating food security. I tweaked this recipe which I found in The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart.

Highly recommend this book for any bartender, gardener, or aspiring lush who wants to know more about where their booze comes from. 

Image and recipe courtesy of @thenickromancer.

@thenickromancer

Cocktails & Propaganda

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