Welcome to Day 12 of the Advent of Cocktails 2025! Today's cocktail is...

Good Cork

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History

The Good Cork is a modern, spirit‑forward cocktail created by acclaimed bartender Phil Ward at his New York City bar Mayahuel in 2013. It uniquely marries the spicy, fruity character of single‑pot‑still Irish whiskey with the smoky depth of mezcal, anchored by the herbal sweetness of Benedictine and the floral‑anise complexity of Peychaud’s bitters. Ward’s intention was to parallel the distillation craftsmanship shared by Irish whiskey and mezcal, elevating both spirits in a harmonious blend (liquor.com).

The name “Good Cork” likely alludes to Ireland’s County Cork, a region synonymous with whiskey tradition, lending a playful nod to its Irish roots (cocktailwave.com). It’s also notable that variations in single‑pot‑still whiskey (such as Redbreast vs. Green Spot) and mezcal (light vs. heavily smoky expressions) allow for endless customization—creating a versatile canvas for flavor exploration (irishwhiskeyusa.com)

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Good Cork

• 1 oz Irish whiskey (30 ml)
• 1 oz mezcal (30 ml)
• 1/2 oz Bénédictine (15 ml)
• 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
• Apple slice for garnish (optional)

1. Add the Irish whiskey, mezcal, Bénédictine, and Peychaud’s bitters to a mixing glass.
2. Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir until well chilled and properly diluted (about 20–30 seconds).
3. Strain into a rocks/old fashioned glass over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with an apple slice (or an orange twist) and serve.

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Variations

Documented and commonly suggested riffs:

• Less-smoky / 'Gentle Cork': substitute reposado tequila or a milder mezcal for a softer agave note (same proportions).
• Mezcal-forward: 1.25 oz mezcal / 0.75 oz Irish whiskey to emphasize smoke.
• Herbal swap: replace Bénédictine (½ oz) with ½ oz Green Chartreuse or ½ oz Amaro (e.g., Amaro Montenegro) for a different herbal profile.
• Tropical Twist (“Good Cork on the Beach”): Add a splash of coconut water; garnish with pineapple wedge for a refreshing, tropical edge (cocktailwave.com).
• Spicy Cork: Swap Peychaud’s for chocolate bitters and add a thin jalapeño slice for earthy and spicy depth (cocktailwave.com).
• Autumn Cork: Add a dash of maple syrup and garnish with a cinnamon stick instead of apple for a warm, seasonal variant (cocktailwave.com).

Several recipe sites and cocktail blogs publish these types of tweaks and some site-specific riffs (for example, Cocktailwave lists a ‘Good Cork am Strand’ and a spicy variant). For spirit recommendations, some sources specifically suggest single-pot-still Irish whiskeys (e.g., Redbreast, Green Spot) and approachable mezcals (e.g., Del Maguey Vida or similar joven mezcals) to hit the intended balance.

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Previous December 12 cocktails

• AoC 2020: Fancy Free
• AoC 2021: Hemingway Daiquiri
• AoC 2022: Tuxedo No. 2
• AoC 2023: Dead Man's Handle
• AoC 2024: Tom Collins

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Ingredient heads-up: Fernet‑Branca will be called for tomorrow

NB! Variations and your own riffs are encouraged, please share the result and recipe!

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