Sun Stealer

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Cocktail History

The Sun Stealer is a winter cocktail that was created by Henry Prendergast at Analogue in Chicago, Illinois. It's a dessert-inspired variation of the classic Gin Martini formula that employs the body and strength of gin and vermouth with hints of chocolate, menthol, and bitterness from the accenting liqueurs. This combination forms a strong and bold yet sweet and light flavor that just about anyone can appreciate.

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Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. I used Maison Ferrand Citadelle Gin.

Sweet Vermouth: This is a fortified wine made with grapes, sugar, botanicals, herbs, sugar, and alcohol. I used Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth.

White Crème De Cacao: This is a liqueur made with white chocolate, vanilla, sugar, and alcohol. I used DeKuyper Crème De Cacao White.

Fernet-Branca: This is an amaro made in Italy with gentian, aloe, herbs, spices, sugar, and alcohol.

Orange Bitters: This is a food product made with oranges, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Angostura Orange Bitters.

Lemon Twist: This is the peel of a lemon that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.

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Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. I used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.

Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.

Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is stirred. I used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.

Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.

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Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Orange brown color

• Aroma: Citrus and vermouth

• Taste: Slightly bitter Fernet-Branca color with light chocolate and herbal gin notes

• Finish: Bitter amaro and fortified wine

Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐

Kendall’s Take: "I found the Sun Stealer to be very unique in taste. It definitely has Fernet-Branca's bitterness, but it's tempered by the other ingredients to make the drink palatable enough for someone like me who prefers sweeter cocktails. I don't know that I would make this one again, but I would put it on a list of recipes I'd try every so often as a gateway to liking more bitter cocktails."

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Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold-Weather Cocktails by the editors of PUNCH.