Wednesday, May 5, 2021

The Mother-in-Law Cocktail

The Mother-in-Law Cocktail

This New Orleans charmer features complex, spicy flavor

Looking for a new twist on Mother’s Day? Try this tasty tipple.

It features bourbon at play with some spicy, jazzy companions (because New Orleans, you know).

Serve it and toast all the maternal spirits in your life. It’s the right thing to do.

The Mother-in-Law Cocktail

Recipe: The Mother-in-Law Cocktail

We learned about this drink from Ted Haigh’s Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails. Haigh discovered it on Chuck Taggart’s website, The Gumbo Pages. (BTW, if you’re not familiar with The Gumbo Pages, it’s one of the best sources we know for authentic Louisiana food and drink recipes.)

This cocktail dates back at least to the early 20th century. It was invented by . . . someone’s mother-in-law (Mrs. Lucien E. Lyons of New Orleans is the lady in question). The original recipe was mixed by the quart – it required an entire bottle of bourbon – and was served from a decanter. If you click the link to The Gumbo Pages in the paragraph above, you can read much more about the history of the drink.

Ted Haigh reduced the recipe to a mere 9 ounces of bourbon – which he suggests will serve 3 people. That’s still a bit much for us, so we cut his quantity in half. Our recipe still requires a hefty 4½ ounces of bourbon, so we say it serves two.

Ingredients

  • 4½ ounces bourbon
  • ¼ ounce maraschino liqueur
  • ¼ ounce Grand Marnier (or other good-quality orange curaçao)
  • ½ teaspoon Amer Picon (or substitute; see Notes)
  • ¼ ounce simple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon Peychaud’s bitters
  • ½ teaspoon Angostura bitters
  • garnish of an orange or lemon slice or wheel (optional)

Procedure

  1. Combine all the ingredients (except garnish) in a mixing glass half filled with ice. Stir briskly until the contents are well chilled (30 seconds ought to do it).
  2. Strain into two cocktail glasses (preferably ones that have been chilled). Add garnish, if desired, and serve.

The Mother-in-Law Cocktail

 Notes

  • Why stir rather than shake? Because all the ingredients are clear. Shaking introduces tiny oxygen bubbles, which can cloud the drink.
  • But the cloudiness dissipates quickly, so we often shake anyway.
  • Amer Picon is a French liqueur that was a popular cocktail ingredient at the beginning of the 20th century. It went out of production for a quite a few years and, although it’s being produced again, it is difficult to find in the US. But there are substitutes that closely resemble its flavor – we discuss those at length in our post about The Brooklyn Cocktail. Our favorite Amer Picon substitute is Bigallet China-China Amer, so that’s what we use.
  • We sometimes increase the amount of Amer Picon to 1 teaspoon. 
  • This recipe calls for rather large quantities of bitters (most drinks require only a dash or two). The bitters add a spicy flavor that’s mellowed by the other ingredients.
  • If you skip the simple syrup, you’ll still have a nicely flavored tipple. But we think simple syrup helps soften and balance the drink.
  • BTW, if you don’t have simple syrup, you can just add finely granulated sugar. You’ll probably have to stir longer to ensure it all dissolves, though.
  • We think garnish is very optional for this drink. We sometimes see recipes that suggest using a maraschino cherry. That’s festive looking, but too sweet (even the brandied ones). We generally add an orange wheel as garnish (if we garnish at all) because we like the way it looks.
  • This drink typically is served “up” in a cocktail glass. But we also like it over ice in a rocks (Old-Fashioned) glass.

The Mother-in-Law Cocktail
Mother Nature

“Mamma mia!” said Mrs. Kitchen Riffs. “This drink is fabulous.”

“Yup,” I said. “We tapped the mother lode of cocktail flavor.”

“It’s a drink that every mother’s son would crave,” said Mrs K R.

“But your glass is empty already,” I said. “I feel like a mother bird staring at a gaping maw.”

“Glad you feel the maternal urge to refill it,” said Mrs K R. “But let’s keep quiet about having more than one of these superchargers.”

Mum’s the word.

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66 comments:

Pam said...

This is my kind of cocktail! It looks and sounds great, John! And anything connected w/New Orleans is great too!!! Thanks for the Gumbo Pages link! And, as Mrs. Kitchen Riffs says, "Mamma Mia!"

Kitchen Riffs said...

HI Pam, the Gumbo Pages is a wonderful read! And this is a wonderful drink. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Mae Travels said...

Wow -- a recipe with seven ingredients that I don't have. I have an orange that I could slice. Maybe I'll just eat it and call it a day. Though I suspect I would like that drink if I were in a bar in NOLA.

Your comment about food banks (on my blog) was perfect -- making a financial contribution is much better than giving them food, because they have access to much better prices for food, and because they inevitably have other costs to cover.

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

savorthebest said...

A perfect drink for my mother in law. I'm not sure she would like to go too heavy on the bitters though

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Mae, this drink really does require some ingredients most people won't have, alas, and it's a really unusual combo of ingredients, too. Although we've used all the ingredients multiple times in the past. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pat and Dahn, the bitters really work in this. Even though the amount is absurdly large. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Anne in the kitchen said...

What a beautiful cocktail! I would say I will try it on Mother's Day, but it will have to wait. It is not keto friendly like my current drink of choice (vodka rocks with a twist), but it sounds infinitely better.

Fran @ G'day Souffle said...

Wow, this drink looks nice and spicy! Thanks for the heads up on the Gumbo Pages blog (why not change the name to the "Gumbo Chronicles')! There are some great recipes on that blog!

Martha said...

Yummy - It looks and sounds perfectly delish!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Anne, this is definitely better than vodka on the rocks. :-) But you're right -- definitely not keto friendly. :-( Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Fran, really, really spicy. And good! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Martha, it's totally delish -- a really unusual drink. Thanks for the comment.

Pam said...

I have a feeling I would LOVE this cocktail.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, if you like bourbon (and as I recall, you do), you will. :-) Thanks for the comment.

beyondkimchee said...

I love the name of this cocktail. Stir than shake, got it.

Healthy World Cuisine said...

What a gorgeous drink John. Just chuckling a little bit on all the bitters for the Mother in Law. (smiling) Cheers to Mrs. Riff and wishing her a super Mom's Day ahead.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Holly, great name, outstanding flavor. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Bobbi, yeah, this drink is loaded with bitters! Wouldn't think it'd taste that great, but the flavor is excellent. Thanks for the comment.

Angie's Recipes said...

This is such a fun and beautiful drink! And I love the name and the beautiful shots too, John.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Angie, isn't this nice? Lovely flavor. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Raymund said...

The cocktail name sounds scary 🤣🤣🤣 I guess many will think that way feels like something you dont wanna touch. Anyways that looks like an interesting drink, quite complicated with 8 ingredients for a cocktail.

New Classic r said...

This is such an warm and inviting cocktail recipe. And I like that it didn't lead into a bunch of snarky mother-in-law jokes.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Raymund, this is one of the more complicated cocktail recipes out there (although some Tiki recipes are pretty extensive, too). Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi NCR, snarky? Us? Ever? :-) Thanks for the comment.

Sherry's Pickings said...

whew a bottle of bourbon? sounds good to me:-) what a drink, what great photos!!

Happy Retiree's Kitchen said...

I think I would need more than one as well. Looks like a delicious cocktail with a very me meaningful but also fun idea behind it. Well done!

Eva Taylor said...

What a great libation, so pretty in that glass too. Happy Mother’s Day to Mrs KR.
Eva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com/

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Ooh, my MIL would have loved this! Guess, I'll drink one in her honor!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Sherry, yup, a whole bottle. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pauline, two of these is nice, but it's rather strong, so we wouldn't want more than that! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Eva, we thought that glass would be appropriate for this drink. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Liz, that's the spirit! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Abbe@This is How I Cook said...

What a complex drink-which is how I like mine! Kind of scary, but soon I'll be a mother-in-law. Better drink one, or two, with that thought!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Abbe, perfect timing. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Family Spice said...

So many flavors! I'll have to make this for my MIL!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, isn't this nice? A lot of ingredients, but a LOT of flavor. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Denise Browning said...

Cheers to all Moms out there!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Denise, cheers! :-) Thanks for the comment.

mjskit said...

Aren't all cocktails in New Orleans made by the quart? :) What a party town. A very unusual drink but it looks extremely tasty. I think I would have the same problem as Mrs. R and look down and realized I've already drank it. :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi MJ, good point re New Orleans and drink sizes. :-) This really is tasty -- and does disappear all too quickly! Thanks for the comment.

Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes said...

I wish I had one of these in front of me right now! Great name and love the ingredients!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ashley, great flavor, too. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Food Gal said...

I love any cocktail with a great bitter orange taste. Cheers to all the moms and moms-in-law on your special day tomorrow! ;)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Carolyn, you'd love this -- really deep flavor. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Balvinder said...

Wow, such a fun and beautiful drink!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Balvinder, nice, huh? :-) Thanks for the comment.

Natalia said...

Very pretty!

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

The Mothers-in-law in this family certainly would have loved this cocktail! I'd be happy to toast to them with one of my own!

Jeff the Chef said...

I love that the inventor of this drink either had a mother-in-law who required a full bottle of bourbon, or he thought she'd be perhaps more tolerable and/or amusing after one!

Cocoa and Lavender said...

Happy Mother's Day! Hard to believe my mother has been gone for 33 years — but I will raise a glass to her today. Don’t have all the ingredients for this on hand — need to source the Amer Picon. Have everything else!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Natalia, tasty, too. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Liz, toasting is good. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Jeff, lol! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi David, the Amer Picon -- or likely a substitute, like the Bigallet China-China Amer, can be hard to find. But a good liqueur store can help you. And as you've noticed, we've used Amer Picon in a bunch of cocktails over the last year! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Sippity Sup said...

I think that some MILs requires all 9 ounces. Not mine of course. GREG

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Greg, you're probably right about that. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Ben | Havocinthekitchen said...

Ooo bourbon and orange makes one of my favourite combinations. This cocktail looks and sounds elegant and delightful!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ben, orange is such a great flavor in drinks! And we'll never turn down bourbon. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Valentina said...

I would have served this on Sunday had I seen it before. I'm certainly not waiting until next year -- so we'll go for it at whatever the next occasion is. So smooth and beautiful! Photos are amazing, as always, John. :-) ~Valentina

Inger @ Art of Natural Living said...

Total Wine has the Bigallet China-China :). And my kids wonder how my liquor cabinet gets to full :)

Inger @ Art of Natural Living said...

And your photos are wonderful I should add!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Valentina, June is wedding season, so you can just have a generic toast to mothers-of-the-bride-everywhere. Even if you don't know anyone getting married this year! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Inger, Total Wine might be a better place to buy booze than wine! :-)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Inger, ah, thanks so much for that kind comment! :-)

Laura Dembowski said...

This drink certainly sounds like it packs a punch, but sometimes that's just what you need ;)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, sometimes you do! :-)