morningside heights

1 oz Reposado Tequila (Espolon)
1 oz Mezcal (Montelobos)
1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth (Dolin)
1/2 oz Amaro Montenegro
2 dash Chocolate Bitters (Housemade)

Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a grapefruit twist.
Two Sundays ago, I returned to the Amaro Montenegro Facebook page's recipe section and happened upon the Morningside Heights. This recipe by Theo Lieberman of Milk & Honey was named after a part of Manhattan that is much further north than the Milk & Honey bar located in the Flatiron district. Once stirred and strained, the drink gave forth a smoky agave and bright grapefruit oil aroma. A light grape and orange sip transitioned into a more flavorful swallow with agave flavors more recognizable as mezcal as well as a chocolate-anise finish.