By Dina Novar–
π is more than just a quirky mathematical constant; it’s a fundamental key to understanding the universe. As we celebrate π Day (on 3/14, the date with the first three digits of π), we recognize its significance in everything around us, from engineering and physics to art and nature. π serves as a reminder that math is deeply woven into the fabric of our world.
This holds true in the world of cocktails as well, where the constant π quietly underlies every aspect of proper glass design. From the circumference of the rim to the volume of the bowl, circular geometry and its mathematical expressions determine how we experience fine spirits, especially those that fall under the darker colored spectrum.
When you pour the “Baton Rouge” into anything but a proper whiskey glass, the cocktail gods don’t just weep; they plot revenge on your taste buds. Here’s why mathematics demands the right vessel:
The Rim Job – The wide rim of a whiskey glass creates the optimal circumference for your nose to capture the complex aromatics of Cognac and rum without getting a nostril full of ethanol, which, contrary to popular belief, is not the goal of drinking.
How Size Matters – The bowl volume of a proper whiskey glass gives “The Baton Rouge” room to breathe without letting all those expensive aromatic compounds escape to perfume the room instead of your palate.
Getting Nosy – The ideal whiskey glass height ensures the heavier molecular compounds from Peychaud’s and Angostura bitters reach your nose in perfect proportion to the lighter ethanol molecules—unless you enjoy the smell of pure alcohol, in which case perhaps drinking hand sanitizer would be more cost-effective.
All the Right Curves – The inward curve of the glass walls functions like a mathematical funnel, directing specific vapor compounds toward your nose with the precision of a missile guidance system, for getting drunk with sophistication.
When served in a proper whiskey glass, the “Baton Rouge” cocktail doesn’t just taste good; it tastes inevitable, as if the mathematics of the universe had been quietly working toward this moment since the Big Bang. And if that’s not worth using the right glass, what is?
The Baton Rouge Cocktail
Cognac (1 1/3 oz) – the foundation, like the first digit of π
Angostura bitters (dash) – the punctuation in our liquid sentence
red vermouth (2/3 oz) – the sweet variable in our equation
Ron Del Barrilito Santa Ana Rum (2/3 oz) – the irrational element that makes it interesting
Peychaud’s Aromatic Bitters (dash) – the final coefficient
The “Baton Rouge” isn’t just a cocktail; it’s a mathematical event happening in real-time. The vermouth’s sweet herbaceous notes form a perfect counterpoint to the Cognac’s warm fruit, while the two bitters create aromatic complexity that plays across your palate like a well-structured equation reaching its elegant solution.
San Francisco-based Dina Novarr enjoys sharing her passion for fine wines, spirits, non-alcoholic craft beverages, and more with others.
Cocktails with Dina by Dian Novar
Published on March 13, 2025
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