monte carlo

1/2 Cognac (1 1/2 oz Courvoisier VS)
2 dash Curaçao (1/2 oz Senior Curaçao)
2 dash Dry Vermouth (1/2 oz Noilly Prat)
2 dash Madeira (1/2 oz Blandy's 5 Year Verdelho)

Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

After the Sweet & Vicious, I decided to take the drink feel back a century with the Monte Carlo from the Pioneers of Mixing at Elite Bars: 1903-1933. While there is a better known Monte Carlo that is an embittered Frisco (whiskey, Bénédictine, Angostura), I felt that this lesser known namesake recipe was worth bringing to light.
The Monte Carlo conjured an orange aroma with hints of grape from the Madeira. The dry grape sip led into Cognac and orange notes on the swallow; moreover, the drink ended with a slightly smokey tang on the swallow from the Verdelho Madeira. Overall, the Monte Carlo had a somewhat of an aperitif feel to it, and its balance most certainly matched the late 19th century feel we anticipated.