Kevin Elliott shares this Memorial Day Weekend cocktail he named Simpson’s Honor in memory of the first American combat casualty. William Simpson was a Pennsylvania rifleman who enlisted in General Washington’s Continental Army in 1775.
The recipe is below along with the names of the 13 women and men killed in the withdrawal from Afghanistan last year. They are our most recent combat casualties.
Need
2 oz Bourbon or Rye Whisky
1 tsp Moroccan Preserved Meyer Lemon Paste
¾ oz of honey ginger syrup*
(Meyer) lemon slice for garnish
Do
Mix all the ingredients in a tall glass with a little ice and stir to chill. Strain it into a glass and drop in a lemon slice to garnish.
Toast
To William Simpson and all brave patriots who have followed him.
The 13 American servicemen killed in Afghanistan on 26 August 2021 have been posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal:
Sergeant Nicole L. Gee
Corporal Daegan W. Page
Lance Corporal David L. Espinoza
Lance Corporal Dylan R. Merola
Lance Corporal Kareem M. Nikoui
Seaman Maxton W. Soviak
Corporal Humberto A. Sanchez
Corporal Hunter Lopez
Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo
Staff Sergeant Ryan C. Knauss
Lance Corporal Rylee J. McCollum
Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz
Staff Sergeant Darin T. Hoover
*Honey syrup is easy to make. Mix equal parts (about ¼ cup) honey and water in a small saucepan. I added a little less than half a teaspoon of ground ginger to flavor it. Some fresh sliced or grated ginger would have been grand, but I was lazy. Bring it just to a simmer for about a minute, stir it and turn off the heat and let it cool completely. The flavor improves as it cools. You can store it in a jar in the fridge if you haven’t used it all for the drinks. Or you can just buy it at a decent liquor store…!
