prizefighter

1 oz Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth
1 oz Fernet Branca
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
2 sprig Mint
1 pinch Salt

Shake with ice and double strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with mint sprigs and add straws.
Two Thursdays ago, I stopped into Spoke and asked bartender Daniel for the Prizefighter. Offshift Spoke bartenders California Gold and Sam Karachi described to me how the drink was created by Nick Jarrett at a recent Tales of the Cocktail. The original called for muddled lemon wedges but the staff at Spoke decided to simplify the recipe for expediency purposes. Once mixed, the mint bouquet contributed greatly to the nose. A lemon, grape, and caramel sip led into Fernet Branca swallow that was modulated by the Carpano Antica and was followed by mint notes.

Postnote 09/15/17: I found the recipe that Nick posted on the Barnotes app.

Prizefighter No. 1
N. Jarrett original from Clover Club, 2010; Mr. Boston's Official Bartender's Guide, 75th anniversary edition.
• 1 oz Fernet Branca
• 1 oz Carpano Antica
• 3/4 oz Simple Syrup
• 1/4 oz Lemon Juice
• 6-8 leaf Mint
• 3-4 wedge Lemon
• 1 pinch Salt
Muddle lemon, mint, and salt in simple syrup. Combine other ingredients in tin, whip shake. Fine strain over crushed ice, garnish lavishly with mint. Two straws.