Good Luck Finding the Good Doctor's Headstone

The label on the back of a bottle of Dr. McGillicuddy's "Country Fresh" Vanilla Schnapps has the last will & testament of one Aloysius Percival McGillicuddy. Dr. McGillicuddy bequeathed the recipe for his vanilla schnapps to the world (and his half interest in the Shady Eye Saloon to his fifth wife). The good doctor notes that his vanilla schnapps "refreshing taste made [him] a bit of a legend".

Today, in McGillicuddy City, ND, the Shady Eye Saloon stands proudly on the Main Street, serving up root beer and vanilla schnapps to visitors and locals alike. And the good Dr. McGillicuddy is more than just a bit of a legend around here -- his story is bona fide fiction. The truth is that there never was a Dr. McGillicuddy, and his Vanilla Schnapps is not now and never has been distilled in McGillicuddy City. In fact, just a few short years ago, McGillicuddy City was called Granville, and was on it's last legs - literally. The towns population was spiralling downward, and this "city" from the heyday of the railroads had just 236 souls.

In came the Sazerac Company (of New Orleans) with $100,000 for a small northern town willing to dump it's own history and adopt a new one written by corporate marketing gurus. The town's saloon changed it's name to the Shady Eye, and everyone picked up the new name, in exchange for a little cash.

Despite the completely fictional heritage backing up Dr. McGillicuddy's Country Fresh Vanilla Schnapps (in this case, Country specifically refers to Canada), this smooth liqueur is still worthwhile.

McGillicuddy's is a simply spectacular addition to a mug of hot chocolate on a cold winter day. I first enjoyed this beverage in November sitting in the stands watching college football while bone chilling winter winds whipped through the stadium. The 48 proof can help warm you up just as well as the hot chocolate itself (yet the alcohol content has almost no impact on the flavour). The label claims it’s also good chasing a beer (to which I can’t comment) and even better on the rocks (with which I wholeheartedly agree). It’s also good in your coffee or poured over chocolate ice cream.

The nose on Dr. McGillicuddy's is slightly medicinal, and somewhat tempered. There's only the faintest hint of vanilla, which belies the true flavour of the drink. Unlike what you might expect in a vanilla schnapps, and contrary to the brief description provided here at Epinions, Dr. McGillicuddy's taste doesn't really emulate the typical sweetness of a cream soda. Although it’s sweeter than many liqueurs, it really focuses on the flavour of the vanilla bean itself, conveying smooth texture, similar to what you might get from one of the really good premium vanilla ice creams. The vanilla flavour does lag a bit, but really impacts in the finish.

The schnapps does leave a very slight bitter aftertaste, but it's more of a pleasant reminder (and an invitation to drink more) than a harsh penalty - it's really a taste which you can enjoy, as long as you like vanilla (as most people do). I've shared Dr. McGillicuddy's with numerous friends, many of who don't particularly enjoy most alcohol, and everyone has enjoyed this smooth, refreshing liqueur.