Photo from Eat Make Read
 
I wasn't too thrilled about my beautiful city of Vancouver hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics (you can read the reasons why in this wiki page). However, when the Olympic torch made its way into my neighborhood on Friday morning, I could feel my heart swell as neighbors and school children filled the streets. And despite the inherent cheesiness of the opening ceremonies, I was mustering up some Canadian patriotism of my own. I was mixing me up a good stiff Canadian drink.
 
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Earlier I had stumbled upon Eat Make Read's post about the Maple Leaf cocktail. It guaranteed that this drink would leave me with a "festive, wintry warm kind of feeling" and who would want to argue with that? The Eat Make Read version is made with rye, maple syrup, lemon juice and a lemon peel garnish. It's simple and easy to make for any amateur cocktailist and the maple syrup lends a definite Canadian twist on the regular old simple syrup.
 
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Unfortunately, I didn't have Canadian rye or whiskey, so my trusty Kentucky bottle of Maker's Mark filled in. Which, after all, suited the international flavor of the games. I made my version more sour and added in some bitters because I was feeling, well, slightly bitter. If you are inclined to turn this into a frothy beverage, throw in an egg white and call it a Filibuster Cocktail.
 
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Maple Leaf Sour
1 1/2 oz bourbon, whisky, or rye
3/4 oz lemon juice
1/2 oz maple syrup
dash of bitters
ice lemon twist & sour cherry to garnish
 
Add everything except the garnish into a cocktail mixer. Shake well and strain into your favorite cocktail glass. Drop in a sour cherry and garish with a lemon twist, sip and reach for your inner Canadian.
 
[Top image from Eat Make Read]

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