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Norm’s Nightcap

by | Jul 29, 2021 | Elizabeth's Blog

A Themed Drink for The Dimension Door Podcast, Season 1 Episode 19

On the one-year anniversary of the release of The Dimension Door Episode 19: “Not a Normal Episode,” it’s only fitting that I share the full details and instructions for the cocktail I created as an ode to Norman Crispin Gunderson. Episodes 18 and 19 were two of the most difficult episodes we have ever recorded–and two of the most emotionally challenging sessions we’ve shared at our game table. For Episode 18, I created a complex cocktail called The Sentinel to commemorate the events. For Episode 19, I focused on crafting a drink where every element was inspired by everyone’s favorite retired ratfolk doctor: Norm.

Skip to the recipe or keep reading for details regarding my inspiration for this cocktail.

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An Ode to Norman Crispin Gunderson

Norm’s Nightcap is a cocktail inspired by the good doctor’s use of poisons and medicinal herbs, as well as by Zac Kreitler’s preference for gin (Zac is the player behind this character). It is bittersweet, as we all feel when thinking about Norm. I garnished it with a cherry pierced by a rapier cocktail pick as an homage to Norm’s sweetness, fondness for berries, and weapon of choice.

This cocktail is stirred in a mixing glass rather than shaken in order to minimize dilution while chilling and preserve a smoother texture; shaking the drink would result in more dilution from ice melt and some aeration in the drink. While this is desirable in a lot of drinks (especially those containing citrus), it is not ideal for this cocktail. Norm’s Nightcap can be thought of as a bit of a cross between a classic gin martini and an aviation. It is more complex in flavor and more herbaceous/floral than a martini, with the violette liqueur and the bitters involved. However, it is also darker and more subdued than an aviation. Norm’s spirit has flown, and it is a somber moment for us all.

Picture

The cast of The Dimension Door Podcast raise a glass to Norm. From left to right: Zac Kreitler, Amanda Kreitler, James Schwarz, Elizabeth Wilcox, David Miller
Scroll past the recipe for a video showing the process of crafting this cocktail.

Ingredients & Tools

  • mixing glass with strainer & bar spoon
  • 2 oz London Dry Gin
  • 0.75 oz Carpano Antica Formula vermouth (or sweet vermouth)
  • 0.75 oz Creme de Violette (or other violette liqueur)
  • Angostura bitters
  • Orange bitters
  • ice
  • lemon twist
  • cherry or berry of choice (Luxardo cherries are what I recommend)
  • chilled glass (ideally, either a Nick & Nora or a coupe)

Instructions

Add to mixing glass:

  • 2 oz London Dry Gin
  • 0.75 oz Carpano Antica Formula or sweet vermouth
  • 0.75 oz Creme de Violette
  • 2 dashes each of Angostura & Orange bitters

​Add ice to mixing glass & stir until well-chilled. Strain into chilled glass.

Express lemon twist over glass & rub around rim. This is an optional step, but will add the aroma and flavor of the oils in the lemon peel to your drink; I highly recommend it.

Garnish with cherry or berry of choice; I skewered a homemade Luxardo cherry on a cocktail pick–for bonus points, use a rapier pick in honor of Norm’s weapon of choice.