Quite unique, complex but approachable, Balcones Baby Blue Corn has prominence on my drinks trolley. Confectionery-sweet on the nose, with notes of caramel corn, figs in spiced syrup, & boiled lollies. The palate provides more balance - a honey-sweet impression tempered by its nutty, cinema popcorn character. An unctuous texture allows it to coat the mouth & linger pleasantly, with back notes of sugary black tea & butter-menthols. Most at home in an Old Fashioned, with a good dose of bitters.

If the oranges are particularly sweet, I'll sub in a bitter amaro for the vermouth. If the juice is quite pale & the result is a true sandy yellow, floating a bar spoon of red amaro across the surface gives a nice effect.

Proportions here are just about perfect, but I do enjoy tweaking this recipe to reflect availability of different orange varieties through the seasons. Summer Valencias have a slightly bitter finish & provide balance to the sweet Cherry Heering. Winter Navel oranges are almost unidimensionally sweet. Blood oranges, arriving in late Winter & through Autumn, are perhaps best suited to this cocktail (to my palate) - tart as well as sweet, with a slightly bitter kick, & perfect ruddy colour.