hornet's nest

1 1/2 oz Old Overholt Rye
1/2 oz Cinzano Sweet Vermouth
3/4 oz Mead
1/4 oz Pineapple Syrup
2 dash Housemade Aromatic Bitters

Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
For my second drink at Deep Ellum, I asked bartender Dave Cagle for the Hornet's Nest. This rye drink featured mead to match the Hymenoptera-themed name, and the pairing of those two ingredients reminded me of the Healer at the Gallows. The Hornet's Nest began with a lemon oil aroma that led into a funky honey wine sip; over time, the mead was joined by lemon notes from the twist infusing into the drink. Next, the swallow started with vermouth and rye flavors and ended with pineapple and spice notes from the bitters on the finish. Overall, there was a good variety of flavors with similar tonality in the drink, and none of them stood out as sharp or domineering in the mix.