Cugino’s - ‘Dirty Pirate’

Posted

Thank you for reading this City Pulse article. Help keep our pulse strong, click here to contribute to our award-winning news coverage.

Cugino's - 'Dirty Pirate'

It’s against the rules to reveal the secret recipe of “The Dirty Pirate,” a drink that is described only as “sweet and fruity” on the menu of Cugino’s Italian Restaurant. Everyone knows what happens when you break a pirate oath, but I was determined to crack the recipe without walking the plank. After a little trickery—and an obliging waitress—I identified some of the delicious ingredients.

I mentioned my fruit allergies — a trick no pirate ever caught on to — and cranberry juice was confirmed as a main ingredient.

When I insisted that vodka had to be in a “Dirty Pirate,” my server confessed it was “not a regular vodka,” stopping short of naming the flavor. My allergies to peaches and pineapple ruled those out.

The “Dirty Pirate” tastes like a Long Island Ice Tea, but more fruity and savory. Since gin is in those, I asked if the specialty had “a clear booze that rhymed with ‘sin’,” winking with the eye that wasn’t covered with a patch. I got an affirmative on that. After two rounds of the “don’t nod if it’s true game,” I think it’s safe to say rum and whiskey are also in a “Dirty Pirate.”

The libation was served in a hurricane glass with lemon and lime slices.

Squeezing those into the drink added sourness to offset the drink’s maraschino cherry. The “Dirty Pirate” was noticeably flavorful and intoxicating. Cugino’s had a “two per customer” limit. That’s a rule I didn’t break.

Cugino’s Italian Restaurant

11 am – 10 pm M-Th 11 am – 10:30 pm Fri 11 am – 10 pm Sat Closed Sunday 306 S. Bridge St. Grand Ledge (517) 627-4048 cuginosmenu.com

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here




Connect with us