merchant's fog cutter

3/4 oz Lustau Brandy
3/4 oz Lehment Aquavit
1 oz Falernum
1 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Orange Juice

Shake with ice, strain into a Collins glass, fill with crushed ice, and float 1/2 oz Blandy's Malmsey Madeira. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and a mint sprig.

Two Mondays ago, Andrea and I ventured over to Sarma for dinner. For a drink, I asked bartender Hillary Neuman for the Merchant's Fog Cutter. Their Fog Cutter riff had a few alterations including aquavit in the mix like in the Viking Fog Cutter, Madeira instead of sherry as the float like No. 9 Park's version, lime instead of lemon like at Lost Lake, and falernum instead of orgeat like the Lifting the Fog at Loyal Nine.
The Merchant's Fog Cutter began with a nutmeg and mint aroma that led into an orange and lime sip. Next, the swallow started with brandy, aquavit, celery, and spice notes that gained grape flavors as the Malmsey float sank. We had a similar problem with Malmsey sinking at Loyal Nine, so we opt for Sercial instead.