It’s Super Bowl weekend, but I’ve got bigger things on my mind…

You see, we cocktail writers like to make a big deal about the names of cocktails and why we choose particular ones to write about at certain times of the year or to reflect something in the news of the day. (Like, say, the Super Bowl, which I know I’m ignoring. I’m not a sports fan, so I forgot about it. Sue me.)

However, I’m here to tell you that there’s absolutely no reason at all why I randomly chose the Liar’s Cocktail on this particular occasion. There’s absolutely nobody famous or well known or the most powerful person in the world who has repeatedly misrepresented easily provable facts again and again and again. And that person does not have people going on news programs and repeating or obfuscating those untruths again and again and again… and bullying them when they dare to question them. Nope, I can’t think of anyone like that, and if I did, that person probably would be known to be a non-drinker and a germaphobe.

Even though it’s therefore entirely irrelevant in terms of its name, the Liar’s Cocktail is a decent little beverage that provides some honest boozy flavor. See what you think.

The Liar’s Cocktail

1 1/2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce dry vermouth
1/4 ounce sweet vermouth
1/4 ounce orange curacao or Grand Marnier

Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass with plenty of ice. Shake or stir, as you prefer (stir, I say), and strain into a chilled glass. Contemplate the old saw, “En vivo, veritas.” Of course, liquor doesn’t necessarily make us more honest, but it might make honesty easier. There are worse things.

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Right now, I’m still digging through my enormous bottle of Bombay Dry Gin, which is always a good start for a drink that’s on the sweet side. My dry vermouth was the usual Noilly Pratt. I used both Martini and Carpano Antica for the sweet vermouth. The big difference, however, was switching between super inexpensive Hiram Walker orange curacao and Grand Marnier, which is apparently considered to be something between a curacao and a triple sec. It’s less ridiculously sweet and made for a better overall drink, I thought.

I would strongly recommend leaning towards stirring and not shaking this one. Since this is a pretty sweet drink, I would have thought some extra dilution would have helped, but it didn’t seem to. Maybe the watering was diluting the honestly boozy flavors.