Mark’s Secret Seduction

Travel Expert(a) is hosting a “Drinks ‘Round the World” thing where bloggers post some of their favorite drinks on the first of each month.  I usually hate these things, after all, I don’t think you care that much about what I’m interested in, and I know I don’t care that much about what you’re interested in, but in this case, the topic hits pretty close to home so I thought I would leave the curmudgeon at the laptop and head to the bar.

This drink is perfect for a hot day, or for women or gay men on any day.  It’s cold, sweet and powerful.  Because my kids read this blog, I can’t give you a detailed explanation of the origins of the title, but you can probably figure it out yourself.  (I always chuckle when I offer the drink to visiting ladies, because some hear the name, raise an eyebrow and with a devious smile and great enthusiasm request one, while others’ eyes grow wide and they demur, quietly asking instead for a Pina Colada or a glass of punch).

Anyway, this drink is very easy to make if you have the ingredients, and I have to caution that substitutions are not recommended.  It took me months to find the right set of ingredients in Guate, because all three are hard to find.  Here is the original recipe:

Mark’s Secret Seduction

1 oz Cranberry Juice
1.5 oz Disarrono Amaretto
1.5 oz Crown Royal Whisky

You pour over lots of ice and stir.  An interesting alternative is to make it like a martini and strain into shot glasses.  These things are so smooth and tasty you can have 8 or 10 before you know it.  (This is getting dangerously close to the origin of the name).

If you’re in Guatemala, you will find that all three ingredients can be difficult to come by, and/or expensive.  Here is one alternative I’ve developed:

Mark’s Secret (Guate) Seduction

1 oz Cranberry Cocktail Juice
1.5 oz Crowley’s Whiskey
1.5  oz Leroux Amaretto

For reasons I don’t understand, Cranberry Juice and Cranberry Cocktail Juice are different.  However, it still works.  I have yet to find Crown Royal here, and that is a significant impediment to this drink.  After experimenting with half a dozen whiskeys, the Crowley’s I found at the bodegona is sufficient.  DiSarrono Amaretto is difficult to find here and very expensive.  I tried two Amarettos which were awful before finding Leroux Amaretto, which by itself is no good, but in this drink is passable.

Enjoy.