Published October 24, 2025
Book club episode is just around the corner where we'll be discussing Suburban Dicks by Fabian Nicieza!
This is for all the super sleuths out there!
In tribute to Kenneth Lee, down on his luck brilliant investigative journalist, who is desperately seeking to solve this case with the brilliant Andrea Stern (and write his redemption story!), we're offering up something we've dubbed The Comeback Kid!
It's very much inspired by the recipe we're beautifully gifted in Eddie Muller’s book, Noir Bar: Cocktails Inspired by the World of Film Noir.
(Put it on your to be bought list along with the wallpaper book we talk about in Creepy Cocktail Hour #9!)
In his book, Muller pairs 2021's Nightmare Alley with a cocktail called The Zeena.
This is the drink we're building ours off of!
The Comeback Kid:
2 ounces of Knob Creek Bourbon (Kenny's go-to of choice, when he can afford it)
¾ ounce sweet vermouth (Cocchi di Torino)
¾ ounce Bénédictine
Dash or two (or more, your tastes) of Angostura Bitters
Absinthe rinse (he’s adamant that you don’t skip this step!)
Pour a bit of Absinthe in your coupe or martini glass and swirl it around to coat it before tossing. Then add in all your ingredients into a shaker over ice and shake it up! Strain into your glass and garnish with an orange twist.
In our mocktail (The Cellulitist - another tribute to our story), we're utilizing a lot of the really great zero proof alternatives out there to build a complex, beautiful beverage!
The Cellulitist:
2 oz zero proof or non alcoholic bourbon like Spiritless Kentucky 74
3/4 oz Lyre’s Rosso or The Spirit of Vermouth Rosso (sweet vermouth substitute options)
3/4 oz Ghia - Original (this is a Bénédictine substitute)
A dash or two of All The Bitter's non alcoholic Angostura bitters
*Lyre’s also has an absinthe alternative for you glass rinse!
For your mocktail, remember to go easy on your shaker.
Add ice and your ingredients but do a gentle stir to cool down your drink whilst watching for too much dilution.
This is a tasty one and we hope you enjoy it!
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