This has hints of a Left Hand. The choice of bourbon can steer this is a lot of different directions. I was working on a bottle of Willett Special Reserve so I used that. It’s pretty soft and the final result was as well. Left me wondering how different a high rye bourbon like Woodford or OGD might change the result.

Bottom line: The spec calls for Benedictine, so I’m in.

Willett Special Reserve, Caol Ila, Ango Cocoa Bitters.

Any cocktail with the queen of vermouth amari, Cardamaro, present...well, we're there. And this one doesn't disappoint, with all of the courtiers bowing and curtsying to the supreme lady elegantly.

Revisiting with a punchier whiskey (makers 46) and it did the trick. Superb and superbly balanced. Love how the tobacco notes in the Cardamaro are echoed by the scotch and flamed twist. I went with talisker as didn’t feel like being that holy smoked this evening.

I didn't have Cardamaro so switched that for 10ml sweet vermouth + 5ml Amaro Averna. Probably not the same but holy smokes it tasted incredibly good!

This was a bit too sweet for me and ended up bumping up tho bourbon, scotch and bitters by a notch or two or each. Admittedly I had the inferior 40% abv Woodford reserve that they are selling here now - 52.5 ml, Laphraoig 7.5 and 6 drops Bob’s finest.
Very enjoyable, rich and tangy with decided tobacco notes. Not on the front list at this point but might well nuzzle its way first in time!

Like a funky Vieux Carre. Nice!