Rakefire is an old British pejorative for a person who outstays their welcome in someone's home until the fire has burned down to a few remaining embers. It also evokes thoughts of smoldering piles of leaves, dried sheaves of old John Barleycorn and cool autumn evenings. This is the perfect nightcap for the rakefire in your life. Instead of ushering such intrepid night owls out the door, you might as well mix up a Rakefire, make up the couch and go to bed, leaving your oblivious friend to contemplate the glowing embers of their life. The success of this drink revolves around using a sufficiently peaty Scotch. Dewer’s White Label will do if you want to just hint at nostalgic notions of burning leaves, but we recommend Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 year for the full fall experience.

Rakefire

INGREDIENTS:

• 1-1/2 oz Ardbeg Wee Beastie (or a peaty scotch of your choosing)
• 3/4 oz Lastau Capataz Andrés Cream Sherry
• 1/2 oz Frangelico Liqueur
• 1/2 oz Drambuie Liqueur
• 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 3 dashes Regan’s Orange Bitters
• Orange peel garnish

SIMPLE STEPS:

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir until well chilled. Strain into a double old fashioned glass with one large clear ice cube. Express orange oil by squeezing the peel over the top of the cocktail, garnish with orange peel.

If you want to put the fire in Rakefire, ignite the oils from the orange peel over the drink. Here’s how:

1. Strike a match and let sulfur burn away.
2. Hold the lit match above the cocktail and squeeze the orange peel to express a spurt of oil across the flame and into the drink. This will result in an impressive flash of flame before the citrus oil lands on the surface of the cocktail. Garnish with orange peel.