king's bitter

1 oz Maurin Quina
1/2 oz King's Ginger Liqueur
1/2 oz Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth
1/2 oz S. Maria al Monte Amaro
1/2 oz Lime Juice

Shake with ice and strain into a champagne flute. Top with prosecco.

Wednesday last week, I attended a spirits tasting event at Hawthorne hosted by Origin Beverage Company. The bartenders there were mixing up a few cocktails using some of the product lines, and the drink that tempted me was the King's Bitter created at Island Creek Oyster Bar next door. The King's Bitter began with a ginger and dark grape aroma that later presented lighter grape notes from the prosecco. The sparkling wine's dry grape paired well with the lime on the sip. The swallow began with the Carpano Antica and Maurin's grape and fruit notes and ended with a dry lime finish. The ginger slowly crept up on the swallow such that it was detectable by the second or third sip and played an herbal role along with the amaro soon after.