androgynous cadillac margarita

1 oz Cooper & King's Unaged Brandy
1/2 oz Ocho Tequila Blanco
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Bonal Gentiane-Quinquina
1/2 oz Senior Curaçao

Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass.

Last Tuesday, the Hawthorne hosted a Cooper & King's event entitled "Mixtape" that featured "cocktails interpreting the music of Weezer & Sonic Youth" using the brand's spirits. Being a Sonic Youth fan since the late 80's, I honed in on the pair created by Josh Durr named after songs from the band's Experimental Jet Set, Trash, & No Star album, and I began with the Androgynous Cadillac Margarita. Josh described the unaged brandy in the drink as a very phenolic eau de vie of muscat grapes with pear and malic notes; the closest thing that I could compare it to was a grappa crossed with a pisco.
This Cadillac Margarita variation began with a mineral, grape, and orange nose. Next, the sip began with grape and rich citrus notes and later gained a minerality as it warmed up. Finally, the swallow shared tequila, pear-like, and gentian flavors that ended cleanly on the finish.