Suffering Bastard

The Suffering Bastard is the first in a trilogy of lime-and-ginger-beer cocktails invented by Joe Scialom. Scialom was a legendary barman, polyglot, and ur-mixologist who served drinks to the British Army at the Shepheard Hotel in Cairo as they defended the city again Rommel’s tank assault in 1942.

In response to a liquor shortage, Scialom invented the Bastard drinks, perhaps in an effort to use smaller shares of each spirit. Each uses lime juice and ginger beer, and an increasing number of liquors.

The Suffering Bastard is the gentlest of all three, with the largest measure of ginger beer. Add bourbon to get a Dying Bastard, and to that add light rum for a Dead Bastard.

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Shake everything (except the ginger beer) with ice. Strain into an ice-filled tall glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with a lime wedge, an orange slice, or a freshly-slapped sprig of mint.

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More drinks like Suffering Bastard

Dark N’ Stormy
Black rum, Ginger beer, Lime...


Dead Bastard
Brandy, Gin, Bourbon...


Dying Bastard
Brandy, Gin, Bourbon...


Moscow Mule
Vodka, Ginger beer, Lime...


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