As I turned the pages, I didn’t have a specific drink or spirit in mind. Instead, I casually flipped until something caught my attention. Then I reached the section where it was clear I recently acquired my first bottle of sherry, given that it showed up in numerous drinks on a few consecutive pages. I decided to use one from here that was also a split base number, since those are always fun.
The Maritime Law splits the base between gin and sherry, then adds maraschino liqueur and aquavit. The cherry/sherry combo was particularly interesting. The funk from the maraschino and nuttiness in the sherry give this drink a wonderful depth.
The nose starts with the aforementioned sherry and maraschino leading the charge. Complex aromas abound, with lighter floral notes from the gin. A wiff of anise and caramel hangs in the background. On the sip, the cherry still throws its weight around, but not completely eclipsing the rich grapes from the sherry. Botanicals and more anise hustle to keep up, but there is enough bite from the aquavit to keep it sharp. While this is a warm drink overall, the gin brightens up the edges nicely. A round, dry finish is followed by one last pop of anise on the swallow.
While this drink may be better suited for the colder winter months, it could certainly serve as a summer evening night cap . I don’t really remember where the name came from – possibly from the use of Linie aquavit and its seafaring origins. Or maybe Michael Bluth’s fake lawyering inspired me.
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