Lion’s Tale

A perfect cocktail for spring

Origin

The Lion’s Tail is a sour-style classic cocktail born out of Prohibition. Print of this cocktail can first be found in ‘The Cafe Royal Cocktail Book’ published in 1937. This book was first printed in England but it’s likely the cocktail originated in America - for two reasons. Firstly, it calls for bourbon, a staple of American cocktails. Secondly, in the method, it requires the bartender to ‘twist the lion’s tail’. This was a popular American phrase for provoking the English, whose royal coat of arms contains a lion. Sour cocktails are typically mixed with lemon, the Lion’s Tail calls for lime - with the allspice dram this begins to look like a ‘tiki’ style drink, another nod to its American Prohibition origin. ‘Tiki’ style cocktails became popular in the 1930s in holiday destinations for Americans, who were looking for sun and legal alcohol. Allspice dram fell out of fashion after the ‘tiki’ boom and disappeared from circulation altogether in the US in the 80s. Thankfully, in 2008 St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram arrived in America and with the cocktail making renaissance, helped popularise this obscure but brilliant cocktail again. You have to try this one, it’s also one of our personal favourites.

How to make it

1. Add all the ingredients into the shaking tin
2. Add ice and shake for 10-12 seconds
3. Double strain into a glass.
4. Now for the garnish, you need to twist the lion’s tale
5. Using a channel knife, cut a long strip from a lemon or lime and spiral it over the drink.

On the nose this is citrusy but the second and strongest note here is spice, deep and warming spices. On tasting it’s bright and limey, quite tart as it’s a sour-style drink. Then you get deep baking spice notes. This cocktail is fantastic for spring or autumn, it blends warm spicy wintery flavours with bright summer citrus drinks. We love this one!

Enjoy!

More great cocktails to try