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This is one of those recipes that we call 'butterfly collector cocktails'. Unsatisfied with the simple lilting passing of a butterfly on a summer afternoon breeze, the urge is to pin them in ever increasing number in a box...in this case, in a Coupe glass. But never mind, it was a slow Sunday evening and the dishes were done so we said "why not?". We took liberties: substituting Rittenhouse Rye for the Tennessee Whiskey; substituting Cocchi Vermouth Amaro for the Carpano (too much vanilla for us); and substituting Cocchi Barolo Chinato for the Elixir (we have no idea if this is anywhere close as a substitute). And it was lovely, so bravo to the butterfly collector, but we will probably go for something simpler in future so that we can spend more time watching the butterflies.
I also had to buy a bottle to make this. I'd hoped to be able to sub for something else in the recipe but the Elixir has a distinctive flavour and I wanted to stay true to Alex's creation. That said, if you have a China China I'd give it a try.