born on the bayou

1 oz Privateer Amber Rum
1/2 oz Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum
3/4 oz Dolin Rouge Sweet Vermouth
3/4 oz Benedictine
1 dash Jerry Thomas Decanter Bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a rocks glass rinsed with "smoky Herbsaint (2 parts Herbsaint to 1 part Laphroaig Scotch)". Garnish with lemon oil from a twist.
Two Thursdays ago, I was able to get out of work early enough to catch last call at Backbar. For a nightcap drink, I asked Carlo Caroscio for the Born on the Bayou. Carlo described how it was created by Josh Cross as his rum riff on the Cocktail à la Louisiane. Moreover, the recipe utilized a more spirit forward recipe seen in the PDT Cocktail Book opposed to the original's equal parts structure. Once served, the Born on the Bayou generated a lemon, smoke, and anise aroma. Next, caramel and grape on the sip transitioned into rum, herbal, allspice, clove, and cinnamon on the swallow. While a somewhat different flavor profile than the classic, the smooth complexity and general feel of the original was still present.