old bill

1 1/2 oz Morenita Cream Sherry
3/4 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
3/4 oz Appleton Rum
2 dash Fee's Orange Bitters
2 dash Angostura Bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

Two Tuesdays ago, we ventured over to Highland Kitchen for drinks. When I asked bartender Jimmy Lane for the Old Bill, he commented that it was the drink he expected me to pick. Their recipe is a variation of one created by San Francisco's Neyah White that Will Quackenbush had put on the menu.
The Old Bill began with a funky and fruity sherry aroma that was joined by the Maraschino and orange oil notes. The grape, cherry, and aged rum's richness filled the sip, and the swallow began with the nutty sherry and ended with the Maraschino and Angostura's spice. Indeed, there was a bit of synergy between the nutty sherry and Maraschino notes on the swallow. Moreover, I was surprised that a quarter of this drink was Maraschino for it did not overwhelm the balance.