Hemingway Special Cocktail @LucyBurdette

LUCY BURDETTE: As a little background refresher, remember that  in Death on the Menu food critic Hayley Snow is thrilled to be working at a three-day international conference at the Harry S. Truman Little White House. Things get off to a bad start when Hemingway’s Nobel prize gold medal (which belongs to Cuba and is on display for this weekend only) disappears. And they only get worse when a body is discovered in the storeroom. Hayley must spring into action before the killer adds another victim to his menu. 

Cat house at Hemingway Home, Key West

When I was picturing this first ever conference between Havana and Key West, I could imagine lots of conflict, as the history between the two countries is fraught with landmines. So then I tried to imagine what the two countries share and I came up with Ernest Hemingway. His wonderful home in Key West, where he lived with his second wife Pauline, is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island, known for its polydactyl cats. He also lived outside of Havana for a long stretch of town time with his third wife. He loved both places (maybe Cuba a little more) and spent much time writing, fishing, and drinking. So what could go better with Death on the Menu than a Hemingway special cocktail?

Hemingway was a serious drinker who enjoyed his cocktails powerful, and did not like sugar. So I made a few tweaks to the recipe for the rest of us!

Hemingway Special Cocktail (serves three)

1/2 cup good rum such as Pussers
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 cup grapefruit juice (I used pink)
1/3 cup maraschino cherry juice

1-2 tsp sugar, to taste

Club soda
Maraschino and fresh cherries for garnish

Stir together the first five ingredients. Pour over ice and add club soda to taste. Garnish with cherries. Cheers!

This recipe appeared first on Mystery Playground...



Death on the Menu, the 8th Key West food critic mystery, is available now from Crooked Lane Books. You can order it wherever books are sold!