The Nolet family, which brought Ketel One to the market, is back with a new product, Harlem Liqueur. Before you get any extravagant ideas about 1920s jazz, go further back and envision 300 years of Dutch family distillation in Haarlem, Netherlands. Ahhh, now that's old school. Their new herbal liqueur, however, is purely modern.
Falling into the same family as amaro and other herbal disgestivos, most people will use Jagermeister as the measuring stick with which to compare Harlem. The connection is entirely understandable as there are, in fact, quite a few general similarities. Thick, dark and herbaceous, both are served absolutely ice cold in shot glasses then thrown back quickly. At least, that is how Harlem was primarily imbibed in the first days of its US release. But the liqueur has quickly broken free of its shot glass cage and managed its way into some surprisingly refined cocktails
The Notes:
No matter if it is being shot or sipped, Harlem is meant to imbibed very cold, either by chilling in the freezer and shaking with ice. In both cases, it displays a complex profile. It is, of course, herbal and yet avoids being sticky, syrupy or, even worse, medicine-like. The addition of mandarin oranges in the distillation process successfully garners strong citrus notes that play well with the liqueur's hints of cherry and liquorice. When chilled in the freezer, Harlem Shots maintains thickness and is best enjoyed in a shot (in others words, taken quickly). When chilled with fresh ice, the liqueur's boutique has an opportunity to fully bloom. Cold with tiny flecks of ice, Harlem can be sipped in place of a digestivo, particularly in these hot summer months.
In Cocktails:
Shots and sippers are one thing, but when skilled mixologists like Mike Parish of Prime Italian get involved, things become very interesting. Viewing Harlem as a modern alternative to sweet vermouth, Mike has developed Harlem Night, a thoughtful take on the negroni. Served chilled in a martini glass, Harlem Night combines the liqueur with the ultra-finessed Plymouth Gin, Aperol and St. Germain to produce one outstandingly complex cocktail. With just the slightest touch of sweetness, the drink has a vivid, complex taste composed of honey, cherry, flowers and orange. Sipped slowly, the finish lingers beautifully and continues to unfold nuanced flavors.
Where to Imbibe:
While you can only order the Harlem Night at Prime Italian, there are many local place to try out Harlem Liqueur including Mia, Tobacco Road, Purdy Lounge and B&B. If experimenting with a bottle at home is more your style, Harlem can be found at Riveria, Total Wine and El Gato Tuerto for $25-$30.
Happy Sipping!
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Disclosure: The Examiner was invited to a complimentary tasting of Harlem Liquor. All items are reviewed with professional objectivity regardless of the means of procurement.
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