Today is the 10th anniversary of Attila Ambrus’s escape from prison. A folk hero around the world, Ambrus is a former professional hockey goalie (maybe the worst ever to play the game) who was finally arrested in 1999 after robbing more than two dozen Hungarian banks (often with great panache).

Known as the Whiskey Robber because he was frequently spotted drinking the stuff before a robbery, Ambrus escaped from prison on July 10, 1999, and the subsequent manhunt was one of the largest in modern European history. He’s currently serving a 17-year sentence in Hungary, but he might be released in 2011 for good behavior.

For the whole story on Ambrus, read Julian Rubinstein’s fantastic book Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts. (Or download the collectors’ item audio book, performed cabaret-style by a cast that includes Eric Bogosian, Gary Shteyngart and—oddest of all—Samantha Power.)

In the meantime, pour a Whiskey Robber cocktail, named in honor of Ambrus, by mulling an orange slice in the bottom of an Old Fashioned glass filled with ice. Then, in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine 1 1/2 ounces of Johnnie Walker Red, 1 ounce of sour mix and 3 dashes of bitters. Shake well and strain into the glass, then top with a spritz of ginger ale.

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