Matt Grant has spent the past 20 years mixing up tasty libations at Burlington bars. Now, he’s channeling that experience into a booze line of his own, Linchpin Amari.
Grant’s first product, Linchpin Aperitivo, hit the market in mid-January. In the lead-up to launch, he spent a lot of time figuring out what spirits and cocktails the low-proof, citrus-forward sipper plays well with. The answer? Just about everything.
Seven Days sat down with Grant this week to learn about Linchpin, and he was kind enough to offer a couple easy cocktail ideas for the home bartender — no fancy shaking or stirring required.
The Pallino
Yield: 1 cocktail
This light, low-alcohol take on a classic gin and tonic appears on the label of every bottle of Linchpin Aperitivo. Grant was mum on his future plans for the Linchpin line, but mentioned that this refreshing combo might make a mean ready-to-drink canned cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz Linchpin Aperitivo
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- tonic water
- lime wheel
Directions
- Add Linchpin Aperitivo and lime juice to a highball glass over ice.
- Top with tonic water to fill the glass.
- Garnish with lime wheel.
The Biglietto
Yield: 1 cocktail
Linchpin Aperitivo is on the list at Leunig’s Bistro & Café, where Grant has worked since 2008. The Biglietto — Italian for “the ticket” — is his solution to a common customer request: “Just make me something with whiskey.”
“It’s pretty much the easiest Old Fashioned you can make,” Grant said.
Because Linchpin Aperitivo is low-proof, it makes up for the stirring that typically dilutes a built cocktail. “I tried stirring it to make it a little fancier,” Grant said, “but just throw it in the glass. That’s how it should be.”
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz Linchpin Aperitivo
- 1 1/2 oz rye whiskey
- 1/8 oz Luxardo Maraschino liqueur (optional)
- 1/4 oz Bigallet China China Amer liqueur (optional)
- brandied cherries
Directions
- Build Linchpin Aperitivo and rye whiskey in a glass over ice.
- For an elevated version, add optional Luxardo Maraschino and Bigallet China China Amer to glass.
- Garnish with brandied cherries.
Got cocktail questions? Email jbarry@sevendaysvt.com.
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
