Late to the party here, but just made this cocktail using the specific ingredients listed and I really enjoyed this cocktail. I did want to try use Drambuie in lieu of the honey syrup and with a few little changes, I found Drambuie to work quite well here. I left the scotch and gentian the same (I used Suze) then I increased the Italicus to 15 ml and added 10 ml of Drambuie. The flavors of the Drambuie brought out a very nice taste in this cocktail.
My thoughts exactly regarding Drambuie which disolves better in ice. I'm tempted to get a bottle of mead to try this sort of substitutions too. I should have brought one from my holiday in Britanny 🤦
A good cocktail, indeed. Why not make a lighter version - like the Americano being the light version of a Negroni.
Try this, which could be name 'Innocent Clandestine':
30 ml Italicus, 10 ml Suze, 30 ml club soda, a dash of lemon juice, in an Old Fashion glass over a block of ice, stirred and cheers.
Just made this with Fierfield Birch Spirit (a botanical Irish whiskey) - it developed a distinct coffee note - remarkable how this sort of thing happens! Great drink, wonderfully complex, and worth using great quality honey (we did!)
Great cocktail. The Italicus pairs so well with Salers Gentian and provides a wonderfully subtle pepper/ginger bite. This was good with Glen Grant 12yr old Speyside.