Moral Suasion co*cktail - LC Edition | Liquid Culture (2024)

  • Brandy, Classics
  • Written by Monica C
  • April 4, 2019

Moral Suasion co*cktail - LC Edition | Liquid Culture (1)

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This classic co*cktail is laced in controversy and history that dates all the way back to 1842. The reality is, no one knows the TRUE ingredients or measures when it comes to the Moral Suasion, but it’s close enough, and I’ve brought it even closer to our Canadian home. Stay tuned to Thursdays as I highlight old classics that have been long forgotten, with a series I like to call #TBThirsty.

When it comes to co*cktail books, I’m having the same issue as my bar situation at home, which is…there is NO SPACE! My shelves are getting completely stacked with recipe, wine and co*cktail books that I have to be smart with what I add to my collection. Most of the time though, I cave, and I hope to God that the shelves won’t fall on itself. Okay, that’s a bit dramatic, but you get the point.

Moral Suasion co*cktail - LC Edition | Liquid Culture (2)

This time around, I caved for the ‘Imbibe’ book by David Wondrich. This book is no joke. It goes into a ton of detail of where our co*cktails come from, the story and history behind each one and the people that made it happen. If you love history, story telling and co*cktails, THIS IS FOR YOU. I’m ashamed that it took me so long to crack open the book, but better late than ever, and BOY am I excited to share with you.

I was just casually flipping through the contents until I reached a page called the Moral Suasion. Something about it spoke to me and I decided to dig deeper in its history, and let me tell you found out:

  • One fateful night in December 1842, Dr Charles Jewett of Boston walked into Peter Brigham’s bar to see what all the fuss and rave was about (people kept talking about this gorgeous and neat saloon)
  • What you need to know about Jewett was that he was a huge advocate for the temperance movement, and was completely unimpressed with his visit — in his words, he was “disgusted”.
  • Brigham decided to change his bar list, including some co*cktails that jabbed at the whole temperance movement and Jewett in particular. Of those co*cktails was the ‘Moral Suasion’ which teased at the idea that even Jewett would reconsider his policies after imbibing this co*cktail
  • Officially, Jerry Thomas kept the secrets to Brigham’s Moral Suasion recipe and a few others out of his published book due to their controversy and history.
  • Fast forward a few years later, the “supposed” recipe was anonymously given to the New York Sun, with evidence of a bartender named Edward Barry being the culprit.
  • It is said it is a VARIATION of the Moral Suasion, seeing as Benedictine was not an ingredient used in American Bars in the 1840’s. But his rendition, and a number of supporting factors, makes it the closest we’ll get to the Moral Suasion Recipe

I don’t know about you, but this sounds like a Netflix film in the making. I was completely glued to the Imbibe book as they described its history. Now you’re probably wondering, what is in this co*cktail?! Well it’s a combination of sugar, lemon, peach brandy, curacao, benedictine and a dash of cognac on top of crushed ice and an assortment of fruit.

Unfortunately finding quality peach brandy is a bit of an issue in Ontario, so I improvised and made a Moral Suasion that has a Canadian influence. I brought out the Dillon’s Peach Schnapps that I love so dearly. Now when it comes to Curacao, there’s a bit of history in that itself, which I’ll get into another time. But if you can find genuine, orange curacao, hold on to it because it’s true authentic form doesn’t seem to exist, well at least we don’t have easy access to it in Ontario. Because I missed the ‘brandy’ component in the peach, I put the peach brandy and curacao in one by using Grand Marnier. I know it will change the overall profile of the co*cktail, but again, I’m on the hunt for the genuine curacao so bare with me.

That’s it folks. This co*cktail speaks to a lot of things I love, from co*cktails made over crushed ice, the peaches, the cognac, and fruit salad on top. I’m sure you will love this as much as I did. I’m also going to cheers to Jewett, for pissing off bartenders enough to create this sort of magic.

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Moral Suasion

A riff on the classic and controversial co*cktail by Peter Brigham called the Moral Suasion. It combines peach schnapps, cognac, benedictine and lemon for a refreshing imbibe!

– Difficulty: Intermediate

Author Monica C

Ingredients

  • 1 Brown Sugar Cube
  • 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
  • 1.5 oz Dillon’s Peach Schnapps
  • 1/3 oz Grand Marnier
  • 1/2 oz Benedictine
  • 3/4 oz H by Hine Cognac

Instructions

  1. Soak brown sugar with lemon juice in shaker

  2. Add the rest of the ingredients into shaker, with ice and give it a short shake

  3. Strain over crushed ice and garnish with Pineapple Wheel, Lemon Wheel, Orange Wheel and Strawberries

  • #TBThirsty, Brandy, classic co*cktails, Crushed Ice, Imbibe, intermediate, moral suasion, peach schnapps, pineapple

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Monica C

Hi, I’m Monica and I’m your Fairy Barmother. At Liquid Culture, creativity is encouraged and education is used to empower followers to be the best they can be.

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Monica Carbonell

Hi, I’m Monica and I’m your Fairy Barmother. At Liquid Culture, creativity is encouraged and education is used to empower followers to be the best they can be. We want to provide you with the tools to confidently bartend within your own home and to have some fun while doing it too! Inside this website you will find recipes, videos, articles and more that will teach you everything you need to know about being your best Home Bartender!

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