little valiant

2 oz Salers Gentiane Liqueur
2 oz Cocchi Americano
1 barspoon Lemon Juice
3 dash Orange Bitters

Build in a rocks glass, add a large ice cube, and stir to chill. Garnish with a pinch of salt.

Two Thursdays ago, I met up with a friend at Drink by Will Thompson's station at the ice bar. For a first cocktail idea, Will suggested a variation he created on the Little Giuseppe that was a follow up to his Copper Canyon called the Little Valiant. Will explained that Valiant was a bull from the same region in France that makes Salers Gentiane Liqueur, and Valiant was the first of the breed to reach North America. Experts believe that the Salers cows' ancestry can be traced to ancient Egyptian cattle, and their lack of relation to modern cattle allows for good hybrid vigor when crossed.
The Little Valiant presented an herbal bouquet with citrus brightness from the Cocchi Americano and lemon juice. The citrus continued into the sip where it mingled with a hint of brine from the salt garnish. The salt also toned down the Salers' gentian on the swallow which also contained the bitters' orange notes; Will commented that the herbal notes here reminded him of celery root. Finally, as the ice melted over time, the citrus quotient diminished.