From Fast Flavours, 2012

This cocktail evolved as a homage to my all-time favourite treat, a freshly popped can of chilly root beer. The bar chef's goal is thus to craft a licorice-inspired cocktail by respectfully splashing in a few complementary root flavours. Bitters are prized for their healing properties, brewed and distilled from a powerful combination of nature's flavours and roots.

Yield: Crafts 4 Frosty Mugs

Ingredients

4 ounces (120 mL) of Pernod, pastis, ouzo, anisette, or sambuca
1 teaspoon (5 mL) of vanilla
1 teaspoon (5 mL) of Peychaud’s or your favourite bitters
4 tablespoons (60 mL) of grated frozen ginger
4 cans or bottles of local artisanal root beer

Procedure

Fill 4 frosty frozen mugs with lots of ice. Divide the Pernod, vanilla, and bitters among the glasses. Top each pile of fragrant ice with a pile of grated ginger. Fill each glass with freshly popped root beer. Stir, sip, savour, and share with a flourish.

© Chef Michael Smith, Fast Flavours, 2012

Variation

On Prince Edward Island we are blessed with many artisan food crafters, including one of my favourites, the folks at J.J. Stewart’s (jjstewartsoda.com). They crave authentic flavours as much as I do.