Recipe: Three Bitters Cocktail

After tasting these three spirits together in different combinations, I realized that each one had a complementary thread. Rather then clash when combined, they played together well: muting the harsher aspects of each and accentuating the qualities I liked.

    • ½ ounces Campari
    • ½ ounces Cynar
    • ¼ ounces Fernet Branca
    • 1 ounce Cara Cara orange juice
    • 1 ounce simple syrup
    • ½ ounce lemon juice

Combine spirits with ice and shake until properly diluted (to about one ounce). Strain into chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with a grilled orange slice and chocolate mint sprig.

To read Derek's story about the uses of Cynar, and to learn about other cocktails that incorporate this unusual liqueur, click here.