Cocktail Recipe: Perfect Parallels

With a touch of fall in the air, we settled in by the fire with a warming apple brandy drink called the Perfect Parallel. It’s like a perfect Manhattan — which uses half sweet and half dry Vermouth — except you substitute apple jack brandy for bourbon or rye. We first came across it back at the Pegu Club many years back. We’ve been making it ever since.

Perfect Parallel
12 ounces Lairds apple jack
1 1/2 ounces sweet vermouth
1 1/2 ounces dry vermouth
4 dashes angostura bitters

Shake vigorously and strain into chilled cocktail glasses. Garnish with a cherry.

Yield: 3 to 4 cocktails.