nouveau carré

1 1/2 oz Ocho Añejo Tequila (Siete Leguas Añejo)
3/4 oz Lillet Blanc (Cocchi Americano)
1/4 oz Benedictine
3 dash Peychaud's Bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail coupe. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Two Wednesdays ago for a nightcap, I selected the Nouveau Carré from the PDT Cocktail Book. This tequila variation on the Vieux Carré was created by San Francisco bartender Jonny Raglin in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The drink began with a lemon oil, Peychaud's, and aged tequila aroma. The Cocchi Americano's citrus and wine flavors filled the sip, and the tequila and herbal notes from the Benedictine appeared on the swallow. The Peychaud's came through on the lingering aftertaste especially the anise. As the drink warmed up, the Nouveau Carré became more herbal from the Benedictine and less tequila forward. While the original's sweet vermouth would have worked here too, the switch to Lillet or Cocchi Americano was a good one for it has proven in the past to pair well with tequila such as in the Metexa.