I personally feel this cocktail falls short of the hype. I would rather pair a neat Scotch or bourbon with a cigar than this cocktail.
Anthony Combs
I tried this with Islay whisky, Caol Ila to be precise, instead of bourbon, supposing that the smokiness would go well with elderflower and absinthe. My goodness, the result is way beyond what I expected... A smokey and sweet cocktail, with a tad of the grapinesss of Cognac and the anise of absinthe. This is unlike anything I tasted before.
We tried that modification and loved it!!!