Jack Rose

The Jack Rose cocktail is the sixth of David Embury's list of basic drinks in The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks.  Also on the list are the Martini, Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Daiquiri and the Sidecar - fine company, indeed.  These five drinks have gone on to stardom (or super-stardom) leaving the poor Jack Rose reduced to a groupie in comparison. 

But the pendulum may be swinging the other way.  As with a lot of previously forgotten cocktails, the Jack Rose is showing up on cocktail menus once again.  We could say it's on the D list now and here's hoping it get's back to being a minor celebrity.

The Jack Rose was in it's heyday during Prohibition.  I am guessing part of the reason for this is the grenadine in the drink.  This is sometimes a giveaway for a Prohibition cocktail that is designed to cover up the low quality spirits available at the time.

With homemade (or other high quality) grenadine this drink shines quite nicely.  There are a few theories as to where the name came from.  The most plausible one is that it comes from the base spirit's name and the rose color of the drink.

If you cut back on the Applejack and use some gin instead (say 1 oz applejack and 1/2 oz gin) you have a Royal Smile.  You may use lemon juice, but I prefer mine with lime.