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Cocktail History
The Great Pumpkin is an autumn cocktail that was created in 2008 by Jim Meehan at PDT in New York City, New York. Made using the flip template, it calls for the classic’s mixture of spirits—in this case beer, apple brandy, and rye—and both egg yolk and egg white. Plus, it adds it a delicious and rich spiced maple syrup that elevates its already seasonal flavors and tops it off with a sprinkling of grated nutmeg.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Pumpkin Ale: This is a type of beer made with pumpkin, baking spices, hops, malts, yeast, and water. I used Whole Hog Beer Pumpkin Ale.
Apple Brandy: This is a type of brandy made with apples, pears, spices, sugar, and alcohol. I used Laird’s Applejack.
Rye: This is a type of whiskey made with at least 51% rye grain, malted barley, corn, and water. I used Heaven Hill Distillery Rittenhouse Rye.
Spiced Maple Syrup: This is a syrup made with the sap from maple trees and baking spices. I made mine at home using this stovetop recipe.
Egg White & Yolk: This is both the clear liquid and yellow portion in an egg. I used fresh egg white and yolk.
Grated Nutmeg: This is a spice made from the seed of a nutmeg tree. I used whole nutmeg.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Bottle Opener: This is used to open bottles. I used the OXO Steel Bottle Opener.
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Grater: This is used to grate spices or citrus peel. I used the OXO Good Grips Grater.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Light yellow color with a frothy white top
• Aroma: Savory nutmeg and beer
• Taste: Light-bodied flavor that melds pumpkin and maple with whiskey, brandy, and ale
• Finish: Sudden whiskey sharpness with a hint of apple
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “I’m usually averse to most cocktails made using the Flip template because I’m not big on whole egg as an ingredient. I can’t deny that this is an absolutely incredible take that just wouldn’t be the same without the frothy texture though. I loved the use of pumpkin ale as well and really noticed its hoppy flavor coming through in what could’ve been a busy drink. Overall, the Great Pumpkin is a great seasonal drink that beer lovers and craft cocktail enthusiasts alike would enjoy.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Liquor.com, an online beverage publication.
Great Pumpkin
The Great Pumpkin is a modern cocktail that was created in 2008 by Jim Meehan at PDT in New York City, New York. Made using the flip template, it calls for the classic’s mixture of spirits—in this case beer, apple brandy, and rye—and both egg yolk and egg white. Plus, it adds it a delicious and rich spices maple syrup that elevates its already seasonal flavors and tops it off with a sprinkling of grated nutmeg.
Ingredients
Method
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Add pumpkin ale, apple brandy, rye, spiced maple syrup, egg white, egg yolk, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Remove ice from shaker.
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Dry shake for 5-10 more seconds to emulsify egg.
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Strain into a cocktail glass.
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Garnish with grated nutmeg.
