In Norse Mythology, Goddess Freyja is the goddess of love, sex, beauty, fertility, gold, war, and death, and rides in a chariot pulled by cats.

This also makes her the original party girl / cat lady; an eclectic blend of sweetness and spice.

That odd amalgamation is what inspired the Goddess Freyja's namesake cocktail.  Developed by Bittercube for the just-opened Hewing Hotel in Minneapolis's North Loop, barrel-aged rum and a vanilla-spice Spanish liqueur compliment sweetness from a house-made cider syrup, and smoky mezcal.

Make this one before fresh-pressed cider takes its seasonal hiatus!

Recipe:

• ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz cider syrup*
• ½ oz Licor 43
• ¾ oz mezcal
• ¾ oz Norseman Barrel-Aged Rum (or another aged rum)
• 2 dashes Bittercube Blackstrap Bitters
• Fresh cinnamon for garnish

* To make cider syrup: in a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine 1 part apple cider with 1 part sugar; bring to a boil. Cool, and use or store in the refrigerator.

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients (except garnish) in a tin, and shake over ice.  Strain into a lowball glass filled with fresh ice; garnish with a fan of apples, and ground cinnamon.

Hewing Hotel opened in Minneapolis’s North Loop in November 2016.  Cocktails are available at the hotel bar or Tulibee, the hotel’s full-service restaurant serving a new Nordic menu.

(651) 468-0400

hewinghotel.com