IMBIBE: The Clark Griswold

It’s the holiday season and it’s in the air. Literally. Spewing forth in the airwaves, from mobile devices, satellite radio and on TVs since the day after Halloween.* Due to Thanksgiving’s abuttal with Christmas, we’re cutting to the chase here: That’s right, a beverage designed to help you deal with the pressure cooker known as “The Holidays!”

Get over to Diego’s in Newport when you need respite from holiday obligations, annoying neighbors, carolers, zealous gift shoppers, gift wrapping, card writing … you get the idea …  and join a jolly bunch of assholes at the bar sipping on what can only be called The Clark Griswold.

What:
The Clark Griswold

Found Where:
Diego’s

Go Get:
1 Egg white (no yolk)
1.5 oz Vanilla bean infused bourbon
.5 oz Lawley’s Maple Spirit
Splash house made cinnamon simple syrup
.5 oz Cynar
.25 oz Canton Ginger Liquor
2 Dashes angostura bitters
2 Dashes vanilla bark cherry bitters

Make:
Add the ingredients to a mixing glass with 1 large ice cube. Shake vigorously.
Top the glass with ice and shake again hard. Harder. Yep. That’s right.
Double strain into frozen cocktail glass. (Or use your favorite Wally World moose glass.)
Garnish with orange zest and freshly ground nutmeg.

This creamy, slightly bitter and utterly gulpable homage to one of the best holiday movies ever comes to us from Scott Kirmil, owner of Diego’s (and the Wharf Pub). Scott’s been in the restaurant industry since he was 14 years old and his experience and dedication shine over at Diego’s. I asked Scott about what his favorite holiday memory was, and while I’ll admit I was hoping for a snarky joke or story, his quick response thawed my bitter little green heart: “My first date with my now wife [Adrienne] was a long day of bar hopping in Boston on Christmas Eve after many nights in a row both closing the restaurant we worked at together. We ended the night at the Glass Slipper, which she loves, and I knew she would be the one I would spend Christmas with from now on.”

Note: The author is well aware of the fact that she is, in fact, breaking one of her own holiday rules: Nothing about Christmas or otherwise until AFTER Thanksgiving. She acknowledges this terrible leapfrogging incident and will point the finger at every major outlet chain except for Nordstrom’s for doing this well before her. Also, drink the damn drink and you’ll be ready to holidaze it for the next month for good Saint Nick’s sake. It’s worth it.