When Jimmy Nardello comes a knockin’, it means it’s the time of year to make yourself some Rico Pop bitters. You know the ones, the 22 flavors that may or may not be part of a popular soda.

I’m gong to try and rattle them all off the top of my head, then I’ll go back and check my work to see what I missed.

1. Jimmy Nardello
2. Ginger
3. Cardamom
4. Mace
5. Cinnamon
6. Allspice
7. Nutmeg
8. Dried Orange
9. Plum
10. Kola Nut
11. Dried Licorice Root
12. Anise Seed
13. Sasparilla
14. Sasafras
15. Dried Lemon
16. Juniper
17. Birch Bark
18. Szechuan Peppercorn
19. Cherry
20. Almond
21. Vanilla
22. Apricot

Stuff it all in a jar and add high proof grain alcohol if you have any. We use Spirytus Wesoly which clocks in at 192, or 96%. This is good and you can always take the sting away if need be. There will be water and sugar added to this during the finishing process.

I pulled the list out pretty early. It’s Sunday and I’m wiped and in the background is this super annoying children’s show called Gecko’s Garage. You probably haven’t heard of it but it stars, you guessed it, a gecko. He’s from Australia, so has the obnoxious accent. He’s got some good qualities I suppose. There’s some educational stuff in the show, colors, fixing stuff, etc. Otherwise, it’s pure hell distilled.

This recipe has been tweaked from the original two years ago. We didn’t have any apricot on hand, so I used a bit of apricot pit noyaux. I also added mace and sassafras to replace caramel and molasses. The sugary stuff will go in later, putting in in there now would only make the initial product difficult to strain through a coffee filter. Yes, we have no centrifuge.

Isn’t she lovely?

It’s good to have Rico Pop bitters around just in case you want to make yourself a delicious black Manhattan/Rob Roy type of thing:

Uncle Rico

2 oz. Blended Scotch

.5 oz. Averna Amaro

.5 oz. Nocino

4 Dashes Rico Pop Bitters

Stir with ice, pour into small coupe, or rocks glass with an awaiting BFR, whatever. Express an orange peel. Quaff.