derby scaffa

1 1/2 oz Four Roses Bourbon
1/2 oz Amaro Montenegro
1/2 oz Punt e Mes
1/2 oz St. Germain
1/2 oz Water
2 drop Lavender Bitters

Build in a rocks glass, stir to mix without ice, and garnish with orange oil. Note: This is a room temperature cocktail.
Two Wednesdays ago, I stopped into Backbar for one of their guest bartender series for Will Isaza of Fairsted Kitchen was behind the stick. Earlier in the evening, the bar was full, so I stood against one of the counters; there, I placed an order for the Derby Scaffa off of the Tradesman section of the menu that bartender James Lamont made for me at the service bar. Like their Improper Scaffa, this room temperature cocktail veers away from pure Scaffa convention by adding a bit of water to soften the ingredients. Once prepared, the Derby Scaffa offered an orange and floral aroma overlaying the caramel notes, and the caramel continued on into the sip where it soothed the malty heat. Finally, the swallow presented whiskey, candied citrus peel, and herbal flavors that finished with the St. Germain coming across like grapefruit on the swallow. I was not sure if the St. Germain was more effected by the Amaro Montenegro or by the sharpness of the lavender bitters to produce that note.