black lodge

1 1/2 oz Michter's Rye
1/2 oz Cynar
1/2 oz Combier Cherry Liqueur (Cherry Heering)
1/2 oz Carpano Antica (Cocchi Sweet Vermouth)
1 dash Regan's Orange Bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a rocks glass containing a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange twist.

While flipping through Gary Regan's 101 Best New Cocktails of 2012 two Fridays ago, I spotted the Black Lodge from Tommy Klus of Kask in Portland. Since we had enjoyed Tommy's High Desert Swizzle a few months ago, we decided to select his drink from Regan's collection. While we did not have Combier's cherry liqueur, I decided that Cherry Heering would have to do in a pinch.
The orange twist greeted the nose and preceded a sip full of Cynar's caramel notes pairing with fruity cherry and grape flavors. On the swallow, the rye was accented by the Cynar's bitter flavors, and the drink ended with a pleasant cherry finish.