CheekyChicago

It’s not easy being green.  Or a girl. And it’s even harder to make the switch from Shakespeare to fine spirits like graham elliot’s Beverage Director, Lynn House.  A working actress for many years, she was looking to shake things up (literally), so she morphed into a mixology role.  Now House is rubbing elbows with the big boys.

Serious cocktail-making has long been a male-dominated field and Lynn is just one of many talented, female cocktail connoisseurs in Chicago. The practice of crafting a cocktail is as much about intricate flavor pairings as it is innovation and self expression.

It’s an art.

In honor of Bénédictine Liqueur’s 500th anniversary this year, the storied liquor brand launched a search for the “Alchemist of Our Age,” a mixologist who best embodies the spirit and ingenuity of the alchemists who created Bénédictine.  The unique elixir is comprised of 27 plants and spices – an extremely intricate recipe that’s only known by three people at any given time. The recipe has been passed down through generations of the Bénédictine monk order and the distillation process is so precise, it takes over two years to produce one bottle.

After receiving thousands of entries from across the country, House was chosen as one of five finalists. She’s the only female finalist in the competition.

Lynn admits that being taken seriously in mixology is challenging as a woman, but she wears the title proudly.  She enters United States Bartenders Guild (USBG) competitions regularly, tests her skills, learns new tricks everyday, and more often than not, she beats the boys.

The Holy Grail is the cocktail that captured the essence of Bénédictine and catapulted her to the top. Although Damon Dyer from New York’s Louis 649 and the Flatiron Lounge took home first place, Lynn’s ascension is an honor in itself.

“The Holy Grail’s name is a reference to not only Bénédictine’s religious origins, but also relates to the fact that this liqueur was hailed for its healing properties — the belief that it was the ‘elixir of life.’ I’ve kept the ingredients simple and natural, paying homage to the 27 herbs and botanicals that make up this fantastic liqueur,” explains House.

We’ll  offer up a Cheeky cheers to that.

The Holy Grail

2 oz. Bénédictine

1/4 oz. Esprit Orange Liqueur

1 tsp. freshly grated ginger

1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice

2 oz. Fevertree tonic water

3 dashes of Fee Brothers orange bitters

Directions:

In a mixing glass, combine lemon juice and grated ginger.  Gently muddle as to extract flavor from the ginger.  Add orange bitters, Esprit, and Bénédictine.  Add ice and shake vigorously. Add tonic and gently roll. Double strain into a wine goblet. Garnish with a lemon wheel and sprig of fresh sweet basil.