guiding light

2 oz Xicaru Mezcal
3/4 oz Gran Classico
1/2 oz Clement Creole Shrub
1/4 oz St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
1 dash Peychaud's Bitters

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

I was pleasantly surprised on the most recent Russell House Tavern cocktail menu that there was a drink on there by Joe Slavinski. Joe recently switched from being a server to a bartender and took to the trade rather quickly. His creation, the Guiding Light, was named as a homage to everyone he has learned from, but it was left unclear if he is also a soap opera junky (which would not interfere with his more nocturnal professional wrestling watching). In a way, his drink reminded me of a smoky and spiced agave-based Lucien Gaudin.
The Guiding Light began with an orange oil and smoky aroma with a hint of bubblegum from the Gran Classico. An orange-driven sip led into a smoky mezcal swallow followed by orange and bitter herbal notes and lastly a smoky allspice finish.