Sometimes a small change can make a huge difference. Adding a daily walk in to your schedule, skipping that snack or smoke, you know what I am talking about. Nearly every meaningful change, at least the kind you get a choice about, comes incrementally. Small steps, leading to new pathways to places we had only imagined before we made that first decision. The choice is the thing though, you have to decide to do things differently for anything to change. So with a nod toward experimentation, won’t you join me now as we stand and make, the Pete’s Word.

This drink comes to us from Phil Ward who first created it for Death & Co. back in 2008. It is a riff on the classic Last Word, that follows the “Mr. Potato Head” plan of swapping single ingredients to make new drinks. I kind of love this approach and all the variations it can bring. In the last couple of years I have made, The Bitter Last Word, The Written Word and The Last of the Oaxacans swapping a single ingredient to create some startlingly different riffs on the same original drink. In this case, he follows the standard equal parts build, but swaps in a smoky Islay scotch in place of the traditional gin, inspired by the fact that, as Ward said, ” It doesn’t make sense, but peaty Scotch and lime juice are amazing together.” I tend to agree, plus I am a huge fan of the original and a long time devotee to those smoky Islay scotches, and I have a good feeling about this one. So, let’s grab our tins and get to making.

This is an equal parts cocktail so grab your jigger and add 3/4 of an ounce each of a smoky Islay scotch, the recipe calls for Laphroaig 10 year, so I used that; Green Chartreuse, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur and fresh squeezed lime juice. Add some artisanal ice and give it a good shake to the beat of Foy Vance singing “Sapling” (Live from the Highlands) before straining into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a black lime dusted lime coin on a pick and serve.

Yep, that is everything I had hoped it would be. All of the herbal joy of the original with a smoky backbone that just screams yes to me. This thing is full of big, bold flavors, from the smoky scotch to the sweet, nutty luxardo to the deep, herbaceous chartreuse, all brought into balance by that bright, tart lime juice. There is a lot going on, but it is perfectly balanced, just like the original. I love the way the flavors all shine on their own as well, this isn’t a chorus of perfectly attuned homogenous harmony, this is four strong singers coming together beautifully. Yes, sir, or madam, I think I like it.

I suppose, at some point, I should quit being surprised when one of these Mr. Potato Head cocktails comes together to make something amazing. It is a tried and true plan. Take something that works and make a small tweak. When we are playing with drinks in the bar I always encourage my partners to keep the pendulum swings short. Swap one ingredient and make the drink, if that works, but it needs something, then add that. Small, incremental steps help us learn how we get to the places we desire. It is always frustrating to go a different direction and make a bunch of changes that work, because then we have to deconstruct and figure out what we did that made the difference. It is that way in life, as well. Sometimes, we need that big, burn it all down and start over change, but most often, what we really need is a series of small changes that lead us to a better place. At least then, when you get there, you know why and you aren’t having to sweep up the ashes. Of course, that is only the opinion of one monkey with delusions of grandeur, your mileage, almost certainly, will vary. So raise your glasses to getting better and, as always, stay safe, stay hydrated and stay sane, my friends.