Down the Hatch: Cocktail Expert Rick Turner Loves the Jack Rose

He we go again, dialing back the clock to pre-prohibition America and another classic cocktail worthy of a comeback…the Jack Rose.

Apple brandy, hint of pomogranite from grenadine, and a splash of fresh lemon juice. What’s not to like?

A perfectly made Jack Rose is all about a proper balance of quality ingredients.  The key, to me, is using house-made grenadine instead if that sticky, sweet stuff with the red food coloring. A number of good bars in town make their own grenadine, including my bar at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse.

Who is Jack Rose? Some say he was a mob hit man in New Jersey. Others say the name originates from the drink’s two primary ingredients, grenadine (which gives the drink a “rose” color) and applejack (an apple brandy aged in oak). I like the mob version better; it makes the drink sound more dangerous, which means manly men around the world can feel secure enjoying a pink rose colored cocktail.

1 ½ oz. applejack

1 oz. fresh lemon juice (lime juice can be used if you prefer)

¾ oz. grenadine

Combine, shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Applejack is produce by Laird & Company in New Jersey and is available in most retail liquor stores. Run away from any bartender who tries to  make this cocktail with Rose’s Grenadine. Their efforts will be futile and the splendor of this classic drink will be lost.

Rick Turner is a Certified Specialist in Spirits  (Society of Wine Educators) and a Certified Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers). He writes about cocktails for EscapeHatchDallas. In his spare time, Turner is the general manager of Pappas Bros. Steakhouse in Dallas.