This week’s featured spirit, Apologue Paw Paw liqueur, is made by a Chicago-based company started by a group of friends who worked at well-respected bars, including the James Beard Award-winning Violet Hour.
The company is B Corp Certified, meaning it’s a leader in the global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy, and is serious about using real ingredients and giving back to the community.
Apologue makes four other liqueurs besides Paw Paw:
Aronia. The Midwest aronia berry also is known as the chokeberry, probably because of its bitterness and astringency. Apologue mixes it with raspberries, rose hips and other ingredients for a light, bright take on berry liqueur.
Persimmon. Apologue uses the persimmon, an underutilized fruit, in its version of a classic aperitif, along with rhubarb, citrus and spices. This can be used in a delightful twist on a spritz or Negroni.
Celery Root. Maybe the most adventurous in the Apologue lineup, this liqueur is savory, with hints of anise and green herbs, such as dill and tarragon. Add this to a bloody mary or a mezcal cocktail.
Saffron. This liqueur has an intense smell and tastes of its namesake herb. It also uses a spice-box array — cardamom, coriander, turmeric and curry leaf — for depth of flavor. We can’t wait to try this in a Persian- or Indian-inspired cocktail.
That brings us to the limited-run Paw Paw liqueur. North America’s largest edible fruit, the pawpaw grows from the Great Lakes to Appalachia, especially along riverbanks. The fruit looks like a kidney-shaped mango and its thick skin is green to black. The flavor is reminiscent of banana, mango and custardy apple, with a heady floral aroma.
Here is a recipe for our take on a classic whiskey sour.
HILLBILLY HYMN
1.5 ounces bourbon (we used Maker’s Mark)
.75 ounce Apologue Paw Paw liqueur
.75 ounce fresh lemon juice
.50 ounce roasted banana syrup (see recipe)
nutmeg
Place all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and add ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Grate fresh nutmeg over the top.
ROASTED BANANA SYRUP
1 banana
half a cup of brown sugar
half a cup of white sugar
1 cup water
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Place a whole banana, skin intact, in the oven on a small tray and roast until the skin turns black, about 15-20 minutes. Let the banana cool, peel it and place it in a small mixing bowl. Place the sugars and water in a pan and heat to dissolve, stopping just before a boil. Pour the syrup over the roasted banana and steep until cool. Strain the banana solids from the soup with a fine-mesh strainer.
Hillbilly Hymn - serves 1
Per serving: 198 calories (percent of calories from fat, 1), trace protein, 12 grams carbohydrates, 11 grams total sugars, trace fiber, trace total fat (no saturated fat), no cholesterol, 2 milligrams sodium.
Roasted Banana Syrup - makes about 1 1/2 cups
Per 1/2-ounce: 32 calories (percent of calories from fat, 0), trace protein, 8 grams carbohydrates, 8 grams total sugars, trace fiber, no fat, no cholesterol, 1 milligram sodium.
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