elysian fields

2 oz VS Cognac (Pierre Ferrand 1840)
1/4 oz Maraschino Liqueur
1/4 oz Yellow Chartreuse
1/4 oz Peychaud's Bitters
1/2 oz Orange Juice

Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Finally, after the Countless Night, I wanted a nightcap so I picked up the new Food & Wine: Cocktails 2013 and found Chris Hannah's Elysian Fields that he created an Arnaud's French 75 Bar. With a decent but not overwhelming portion of Peychaud's Bitters balanced by Yellow Chartreuse, Maraschino, and orange juice, I was definitely intrigued by this Cognac drink. I am split as to what might have influenced Chris to name this drink the Elysian Fields more. On one hand, I figured that he named it after the street in New Orlean's Marigny that runs parallel to Frenchman (and also home to the Mixoloseum's bed & breakfast in 2010); on the other hand, Chris has shown an interest in Greek myths before such as with his Thamyris. In mythology, Elysian Fields are the final resting places for the heroic and the virtuous people's souls.
Once mixed, the lemon twist joined the Cognac aroma and hints of Maraschino and Peychaud's anise. An orange and cherry flavored sip gave way to a Cognac and Maraschino swallow with a dry herbal finish. While the orange juice seems to donate a bit of smoothness here, it did seem to make the Yellow Chartreuse rather subtle in the drink.