I read about drinks, a lot. I love looking at a recipe, imagining how it’s going to come together, trying to figure out how the ingredients are going to play together. Reading about drinks often leads to reading about bars, which leads to lists of places to go and trips centered around a single drink. Since we are safe at home for a bit, I decided to make a drink I’ve wanted to try for a while from a bar that’s definitely on my must do list. So let’s get into the tiki-esque Iron Ranger from San Diego’s amazing looking, Raised by Wolves.

First step, ask her out and treat her like a lady. Then grab your shaker tin and fill with two ounces of bourbon, I went with Michter’s American Unblended, which isn’t technically a bourbon, but it’s got the right mash bill and I thought it would be good here. Add 3/4 ounce of fresh squeezed lemon juice, 1 ounce of pineapple juice, 1/2 an ounce of simple syrup and 1/2 an ounce of falernum, I use John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum, because I’m not an animal. Toss in a couple of stabs of ango style bitters, I used Dr. Elmegirab’s Orinoco Aromatic Bitters, cause they’re just amazing. Add ice and shake kinda languidly or vigorously, we’re just trying to get a good mix and a bit of chill, but this is going over ice so don’t break a hip or anything. Once you’ve shaken to a level you are comfortable with, strain into a hurricane glass, or your nearest approximation, filled with pebble ice. Don’t have pebble ice? Well, Sonic does and they’ll sell you a huge cup for like 20 cents, which you can store in your freezer and bring out for special occasions, like this. Garnish with some fresh mint and a lime wheel, maybe a cinnamon stick, go crazy, no one is judging you. Pop in a reusable straw, or we will judge you, and enjoy this truly amazing drink.

Eagle eyed stalkers may recognize this glass from a previous adventure at Fort Worth’s Locust Cider featuring some of my favorite bar partners, Laura, Jenn and Alicia, who I am sure would be game for a trip to Raised by Wolves to have a properly made Iron Ranger. Stay home, stay safe and stay sane, my friends.