A Perfect Heist Cocktail — The Inside Job

I’m a big fan of heist films such as The Sting (a classic), Ocean’s Eleven (the version with George Clooney), and Inside Man (the only Spike Lee movie I’ve ever liked). I love the twists and turns, the deception, and the nuances.  A well done heist film should keep you guessing and wondering how it all might end.

Thanks to Larceny bourbon, which is one of my favorite go to bourbons, I learned about the Inside Job.  So if you need a little liquid courage before you take down a mark as part of your big score, this cocktail is for you.

The Inside Job

2 ounces bourbon
.5 ounces super simple syrup
.25 ounces Luxardo maraschino liqueur
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 dash absinthe

Combine in a shaker with ice, stir with the cool demeanor of Paul Newman in The Sting, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

As with many other cocktails in the Den, you can alter the proportions if you want the Inside Job to be more “alcohol forward” (that’s a good euphemism, isn’t it?), more sweet, etc.  Like any good heist film, it can be deceptive and engages in misdirection.  That’s a polite way of saying that the cocktail may seem sweet and slightly weak, but it will hit you hard when you’re not expecting it.  And if law enforcement comes calling, take the Fifth (not a fifth).