Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor

For those who observe, the 2024 season of Lent—40 days of preparation for Easter (not including Sundays)—began yesterday, so with a wink and a nudge we offer the Holy Joe cocktail.

And in that spirit, I also humbly announce that I’m giving up … vodka … for Lent this year. (No applause, please. Friends who know me best will get that joke.)

With its base spirit of Irish whiskey, the Holy Joe also kicks off a month of preparation for St. Patrick’s Day—31 days from today, including Sundays. (Of note, any resemblance between liturgical calendars and drinking calendars is hardly coincidence.)

While Lent has two millennia of tradition behind it, the Holy Joe cocktail was only created in 2016 at The Hive restaurant in Bentonville, Arkansas. The Hive uses Jameson Irish whiskey for the base, but I prefer the more flavorful profile of Redbreast’s 12-year or a similar single pot still Irish whiskey. as blended Irish whiskeys including Jameson are characteristically very mild, and the other ingredients in this drink will overwhelm them. 

To keep all of the flavors balanced in this cocktail, each of its ingredients should be fairly hearty, so we’re using at least a Vermouth di Torino for the vermouth, and there just isn’t an apricot brandy liqueur as rich in flavor as Giffard’s. 

At the spirits tastings I pour, I frequently have to explain what an amaro is, so here’s a brief overview on that for any of you who aren’t already familiar. This recipe calls for Cynar (“CHEE-nar”), which is artichoke based (“carciofo” in Italian).

HOLY JOE COCKTAIL
2 oz Redbreast 12 Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey
¾ oz Vermouth di Torino (or an equally hearty Italian vermouth)
½ oz Giffard Abricot du Roussillon
¼ oz Cynar (or other carciofo amaro)

Before starting to mix, place a cocktail coupe in the freezer (or fill it with ice and cold water) to chill it. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing glass with plenty of ice and stir for 15-20 seconds to chill the drink thoroughly. Strain the mix into into your chilled coupe, and garnish with twist of lemon zest.

About our Cocktail of the Week partners—shop local and independent!
Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor are less than a mile from each other, on Monroe Avenue near Twelve Corners in Brighton.

Cooks’ World, in business since 1978, is Rochester’s premier retailer of dining, kitchen, and cooking products, including a complete selection of glassware, mixology tools, and accessories for wine and spirits lovers. Follow Cooks’ World on Facebook and Instagram. Sign up here to receive Cooks’ World’s daily email specials and other news. 

Pinnacle Wine & Liquor, in business since 1997, offers a thoughtfully curated selection of spirits and wine from around the world, with a savvy staff to assist in your selection and encourage you along your cocktail and wine journey. Follow Pinnacle on Facebook and Instagram. For the inside track on Pinnacle’s spirits sales, send two text messages to (585)765-7546:
— Text the word “bourbon,” to receive weekly text messages offering the chance to buy rare or allocated whiskies or special prices on popular products.
—Text the word “spirits,” to receive roughly monthly offers on fine spirits other than whiskies.