March Extra Credit at Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co.
The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co., the basement-level speakeasy that has been reintroducing Philadelphia to the classic cocktail with panache, recently debuted its new Extra Credit menu. A nod to New Orleans drinking tradition, the menu is called “See You All in Hell or New Orleans.” The three featured cocktails are available from 5pm to 8pm Monday through Friday for the reduced price of $9.
Colin Shearn, the general manager at the Franklin, said, “Because of Mardi Gras, we decided to go with something New Orleans-themed.” The menu explains that while most of the cocktail’s beginnings can be traced back to New York, New Orleans also has a long and beautiful history of cocktails. Shearn and the head bartender put their heads together to come up with three cocktails that will be available until the end of the month: the Sazerac, the Vieux Carré, and the Roffignac.
The Roffignac is named for Louis Philippe de Roffignac, former Mayor of New Orleans in the early 19th century, who would offer the drink to dignitaries from all over the world. It is one of the oldest New Orleans cocktails, composed of cognac, raspberry syrup, and seltzer. The Roffignac is the sweetest and lightest of the three Extra Credit offerings, a perfect antidote to that hot and sticky New Orleans weather. Fizzy without being sugary, the Roffignac has the richness of a serious cocktail minus the bite.
The Vieux Carré, a cocktail invented in and named after the French Quarter of New Orleans, is made up of rye, cognac, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, Peychaud’s bitters, and angostura bitters, served on the rocks with a lemon twist. The rye and cognac meld together pleasantly, making for a bittersweet drink to sip on the back porch after a long day.
The Sazerac is the official cocktail of New Orleans, and can be ordered with rye or cognac, accompanied by Demerara and Peychaud’s bitters. It is served neat, finished elaborately tableside with lemon oil. Packed with heat, the Sazerac is a strong, classic whiskey cocktail. It has bite mixed with sour lent by the lemon oil, finishing with a licorice aftertaste.
The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co.’s Extra Credit series is rotated about every month. "See You All in Hell or New Orleans" was preceded by Amari cocktails and hot drinks for winter.
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