Jack Bettridge

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A Shot of Smoke

Posted: 02:56 PM ET, February 23, 2009

The drink bone is connected to the smoke bone is a sentiment that I am fond of saying, but sadly in the age of the nanny state getting the two key skeletal elements of this adage together is becoming harder and harder. Either you find one of the few remaining bars with a license that allows smoking or you walk your drink outside while you smoke.

Stefanie Marco, a mixologist who designs drinks for Moet Hennessey, took an interesting swipe at the problem when creating cocktails for the company's new vodka brand extension Belvedere IX. Her new invention is IX Vice, which, while not involving any smoke, does confer the look, the nicotine and something of the taste of a cigar in a cocktail.

The key ingredients are Belvedere IX, which is a complex flavored vodka made sort of like a gin, chocolate, hard snuff nicotine candy and a marshmallow, which gives the impression of the smoldering end of a cigar.

Here's how to make the IX Vice, according to Stephanie:

- 4 oz. Belvedere IX
- 4 tablets Stonewall Hard Snuff, Java Flavor (crushed)
- 1/4 cup (or 1 bar) dark chocolate or unsweetened chips
- 3/4 cup hot water
- 4 large marshmallows

Crush hard snuff nicotine candy with a muddler. Add chocolate and hot water and allow the ingredients to melt. Chill to room temperature, or colder. Combine with vodka and shake with ice. Pour into a long shot glass and top with a large marshmallow. Using a kitchen torch, flame the marshmallow, shoot and enjoy.

I would say don't shoot, just sip and enjoy, but to each his own.

A word on the Belvedere: The Roman numeral is for its nine ingredients, which include ginseng, guarana, acai, ginger, sweet almond, jasmine, eucalyptus, three cinnamon, and black cherry. The ingredients are individually distilled in microbatches and then blend with 100 proof Belvedere. The taste is hard to pin down with wisps of ginger, menthol, sweet spice and citrus.

(5 comments on this post) Submit your comments >

Reader Comments

User Name: Michael Gordon, Healdsburg, CA USA Posted: 04:11 AM ET, February 25, 2009

Dear Jack, Sorry, but this drink sounds really putrid. Kind of like putting out a hot cigar in an ashtray, with your drink, and then drinking the ashtray.

User Name: Jack Bettridge Posted: 10:14 AM ET, February 25, 2009

Well, that's a vivid image, but isn't accurate. It's kind of a spicy cocoa drink with a little nicotine boost.

User Name: Christian Aliperti Posted: 08:57 PM ET, March 16, 2009

Jack, I am game to try a lot however this concoction does not have me running to check it out. I know your from CT, but where in NYC are they serving this?

User Name: Jack Bettridge Posted: 10:27 AM ET, March 18, 2009

Katie Stephens, who works with Belvedere, replies: Belvedere IX is currently available at 1Oak, Tenjune and Kiss & Fly. We�ll get back to you with additional venues as it becomes more available around the city.

User Name: Dennis M, Michigan Posted: 01:05 PM ET, April 08, 2009

Well let's see, boil water, melt stuff in it, put it in the fridge to chill, mix the drink, add a chunk of chocolate, blah blah blah! For cryin' out loud this must have been invented by a girl who likes to cook stuff. Hey I don't know about you but when I'm ready for a 'gar and a drink I generally try to get it on in about 5 or 10 minutes tops. If I work that hard its because I'm trying to get, ahhh, emmm, well you know what guys want don't you, besides a drink and a 'gar I mean?

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