Creative Drinking

Tonight's Cocktail: The Liberal

I forgot to get raspberries so not doing the syrup thing tonight. Instead, I am enjoying the bottle of Torani Amer that arrived in the mail today with another old classic.

Amer Picon is a bittersweet French apertif with a unique orange flavor. It is also made with quinine,cinchona, and genetian. Despite being included in a good deal of classic cocktail recipes, it has been unavailable outside of Europe for quite some time. There are a few suitable substitutes, Torani Amer being one. Although just as obscure, it is made in the US and, with a bit of work, not that difficult to secure.

Ted Haigh (aka "Doctor Cocktail"), author of the must-have "Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails", prefers Torani Amer to Amer Picon. So there you have it.

UPDATE MAY 2014: NO WAY JOSE. I finally have Amer Picon and Torani Amer doesn't even come close. I would recommend Amaro Cio Ciaro or Bittermans Amer Nouvelle as a substitute instead.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz rye whiskey
• 1/2 oz sweet vermouth
• 1/4 oz Amer Picon (or substitute)
• 2 dashes orange bitters

Add all ingredients in mixing glass. Add ice and stir. Strain into chilled cocktail glass and garnish with lemon twist. 
This is SUPER tasty.

(excuse the torn-up kitchen in the background)