I was browsing though a magazine a few weeks ago and I came across a picture of a bottle of rye and rock candy sticks. That seemed like an interesting combination to me, so, like I normally do when I am curious about something, I did a little research.
It has quite the history dating back to circa 1800’s as a pharmaceutical drink; it was used to cure various ailments from coughs and colds to bronchitis and pneumonia. Apparently, it was quite the magical potion. No more visiting the doctor’s office! Of course, we all know that is not the case, however its medicinal properties helped it survive through Prohibition and it is still around today. Luckily for me America’s oldest cordial producer, Charles Jacquin et Cie, located just blocks away from where I write this, manufacturers a liquor called ‘Rock and Rye’.
Jacquin’s has been around since 1884 and is a Prohibition survivor to boot. Besides hoping the medicinal value of Rock and Rye is true and that the taste follows along the same lines………. I stopped and picked up a bottle, at the very reasonable price of $12.50. At first glance, floating in the rectangle bottle were chunks of fruit. I flip over the bottle, jostling the fruit and watch as it floats around in the viscus fluid. Quite the sweet drink and the sugary drinking fiend in you would love it. If I think back to my youth about the medicines I took then this would definitely classify. Definitely too sweet for this whiskey drinker’s palate, but a mix of 50/50 to add a whiskey or bourbon to would help take it over the top and make it an evening cure.
This is such a customizable drink that I will be giving my go at customizing Charles’s Rock and Rye, so why not make your own! I love a good experiment with booze. I will have to post my video on my color changing beverage, but I digress. To make your own rock and rye, all you have to do is mix together a rye with some sugar, citrus, and spices. There are so many recipes out there and many bartenders put their own special spin on it as will I, but first I need to figure out what spices I will add to cure my health as well as my need for a drink.
Once my concoction is complete, I will let you know what I have come up with and how it turned out!
