vatican city

1 oz Suze Gentian Liqueur (Salers)
1 oz Dolin Blanc Vermouth
1 oz Lime Juice
3/4 oz Simple Syrup

Shake with ice and strain into a Collins glass with 3 oz soda water. Fill with ice, add a straw, and garnish with a grapefruit twist.
Saturday two weeks ago, I reached for my copy of The Essential New York Times Book of Cocktails to make a drink that I had spotted earlier in the week called the Vatican City. The recipe was created by Mikki Kristola of the Varnish in Los Angeles and appeared like a riff on Michael McIlroy's Rome with a View. Once prepared, it gave forth a grapefruit oil aroma. Carbonated lime and wine notes on the sip led into earthy gentian and other herbal notes.