Bangers & Lace GM and bartender Nick Ostapczuk was frank: “I’ve never enjoyed mayonnaise or Miracle Whip,” he said after being challenged by Justin Fox of North Pond with the Kraft sandwich spread. “I’ve never bought a single jar of Hellman’s or Miracle Whip, nor do I plan on it after this drink.”
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Given his dislike of the stuff, he hardly wanted the taste of Miracle Whip in the forefront of his cocktail. So in devising the drink, Ostapczuk said, “I took away my own prejudice and just thought about what it was.” Miracle Whip is eggy, it’s creamy—could he substitute it for the egg white and cream used in a classic Ramos Gin Fizz? It was at least worth a shot.
The next step was pivotal. Given the relatively neutral flavor of his spirit, he needed something to overcome “Mr. Krafty Miracle Whip” and make the drink “more engaging, more approachable.” Pimento dram, an allspice liqueur used in tiki and other classic cocktails, would do the trick, he thought, giving the drink “a lot more flavor, a lot more spice.” Lemon and lime juices would add some freshness and acidity to counter the Miracle Whip’s chemical tang, and simple syrup would round it out.
Fill a tumbler with crushed ice. Combine ingredients in a mixing glass, cap, and “shake the living life out of it” to emulsify the Miracle Whip and create a creamy, frothy liquid. Pour over the crushed ice and garnish with peels of both lemon and lime.
