Why it works: Licorice and lime work together. They rank in the top 54% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 2 recipes. Both carry alpha-terpineol, which smells lilac, floral. The science ↓
Commando Cocktail
Ingredients
Directions
Pour the bourbon whiskey, triple sec, Pernod, and lime juice into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes and shake well.
Strain into a cocktail glass and serve.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 2 of 3 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 2 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Bourbon Whiskey | 1/2 oz (15ml) | 33 |
| Lime | juice of 1 lime (44ml) | 11 |
| Licorice | not in our table | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Licorice + limetop 54% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together2 recipes
Shared aroma: alpha-terpineol (lilac, floral).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Bourbon whiskey
- Provides the main spirit body and the warm, oaky flavor that anchors the drink.
- Triple sec
- Adds sweetness and bright orange aroma that softens the strong spirit.
- Lime juice
- Adds acidity that balances the sweetness and keeps the drink fresh-tasting.
- Pernod licorice liqueur
- Adds a small amount of anise aroma, used in two dashes so it accents rather than dominates.
The step that matters
Shake well. Shaking with ice chills the drink, mixes the lime juice with the spirits, and dilutes them slightly. Under-shaking leaves the drink warm, harsh, and unbalanced.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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