Old Sparky

Name: Old Sparky
Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz Highclere Castle Gin; 3/4 oz Cynar Ricetta Originale; 3/4 oz Lemon Juice; 1/2 oz Chambord; 2 dash Peychaud's Bitters

+ 1 Likes

By Josh Saphier

Submitted on: March 1, 2021

Refreshing

Signatures

I created this drink for a bar called Eighteen36 in Houston, TX. 1836 is the year Houston was founded, so all of the cocktails had backstories tied to the city or state.Texas has a history when it comes to capital punishment, they account for more than a third of the national total since the early 80’s. The most infamous way was death by electric chair. Texas and several other states referred to the chair as “Old Sparky.' This gin-based cocktail is “bitter ‘til the end” and even sparks your lips...

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz
Highclere Castle Gin

3/4 oz
Cynar Ricetta Originale

3/4 oz
Lemon Juice

1/2 oz
Chambord

2 dash
Peychaud's Bitters

Tools

Shaking Tins
Jigger
Hawthorne Strainer
Cocktail Shaker
Martini Glass

Instructions

Garnish

Build

Stir & Strain

Glass

Martini Glass

By Josh Saphier

Director of Beverage, Eighteen36

Josh Saphier has been bartending for more than a decade, in major cities across the United States. Getting his start in Boston, he quickly learned the ropes and started his craft cocktail journey. Los Angeles was his next move and he tended bar at Mastro’s in Beverly Hills. This high end steak house saw A-list celebrities nightly. His talent was quickly noticed and he took charge of the cocktail program. There, he created a standard craft cocktail menu in addition to a unique sake based cockta...

Other Recipes by Josh Saphier

Zen Garden

Old Sparky

+ 3 More Recipes

Wet half the rim of the glass with a lemon wedge; dip or sprinkle Pop Rocks over the wet area. Add all liquid ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice, shake, and strain into a coupe or martini glass with the Pop Rocks rim. Tools required: Shaker tins, jigger, Hawthorne strainer

Editor's Note

Highclere gin meets the vegetal bite of Cynar in this thematic sour. A Pop Rocks rim adds a literal spark to the finish, bridging the gap between bitter and playful.

Ratings & Comments (1)

Want to add a rating, comment, or photo?Open the app

Crafted Pour

23 April 2026

What a fantastic concept! The name, the backstory, and the Pop Rocks rim all come together perfectly. This is a truly creative and memorable cocktail.