To celebrate the life of one of Oyster Bay’s most prominent residents, Mill Creek Tavern in Bayville developed its Sagamore’s Rex cocktail with the area’s history in mind.
“The cocktail was created after a meeting with the team at Mill Creek Tavern and researching the history of the area,” says Nolan Studley, an artisanal spirit specialist at Mill Creek Tavern, an American bar and grill overlooking the Long Island Sound.
“They related a funny story about making a cocktail with maca root for a regular and his very excitable reaction,” he says. “They wanted to take on the challenge of introducing more cocktails with unexpected modifiers and ingredients. They specifically mentioned beet juice as an ingredient that would be fun to show guests how ‘healthy’ beet juice can be part of a delicious cocktail.”
Made famous in recent times by Long Island native Billy Joel’s “The Ballad of Billy the Kid,” Oyster Bay is also known to be the late home of one of the country’s better-known commander-in-chiefs, President Theodore Roosevelt.
Roosevelt spent his childhood at Sagamore Hill, which served as the Summer White House during the seven summers he spent there as the country’s president.
The cocktail includes Sagamore Spirit Signature Rye Whiskey, lemon juice, beet juice and thyme-infused simple syrup.
“After reading more about Theodore Roosevelt and Sagamore Hill, the idea for the cocktail emerged naturally, and the riff on a sour seemed like a fun way to pay homage to such a historic figure from the area,” Studley says.
To make Sagamore’s Rex, simply add all the ingredients to a shaker and shake well over ice. Then, strain over a large ice cube and express a lemon peel for garnish.
“It’s tart, savory, lightly and fresh — a refreshing spring/summer rye drink,” he says.
Mill Creek Tavern is located at 275 Bayville Ave., Bayville. It can be reached at 516-289-9489 or millcreekny.com
