There are gray, white, black, red, and brown squirrels, but did you ever hear about a pink squirrel? It does exist but it lives in a glass. The Pink Squirrel is a drink, and it hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Mixologist Bryant Sharp is credited with creating the whimsical pink drink at his cocktail lounge sometime in the 1940s. Bryant’s was originally a tied house to one of Milwaukee’s many breweries and workers often stopped by for refreshment on their way home from work. A “tied house” refers to a tavern or establishment linked to a brewery that sells their products.
Bryant’s opened in the 1930s as a tavern, but later it was transformed into a swanky cocktail lounge, complete with a curved and upholstered bar featuring dark and moody lighting. It was in this environment you could order the sweet and nutty Pink Squirrel.
Still in existence today, Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge has changed ownership and offers a number of mid-century inspired libations on its menu. The Pink Squirrel variation currently offered is made with ice cream. The original Pink Squirrel was made with half and half, Crème de Noyaux, and Crème de Cacao. It is the Crème de Noyaux, a nutty flavored liqueur made with peach pit kernels, that gives the drink its pink color.
Interesting to note, there are trace amounts of hydrogen cyanide in Crème de Noyaux. In older bottles this element would rise to the top of the bottle giving the first served guest an unexpected dose of the poison. But don’t worry, today’s Pink Squirrel wouldn’t hurt a fly.
RECIPE:
1 oz. Crème de Noyaux
1 oz. Crème de Cacao
1 oz. half and half cream
Place all in shaker with ice, shake, strain into a chilled glass.
*experiment as you please with the ingredients including swapping out the half and half for ice cream.
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Thank you Anne - Twilight Hour cocktail stories are always must-read entertainment. This was another fun one! 🐿️🍸
Love this💖