abricot vieux

2 oz Martinique Rhum Agricole Vieux (Depaz Amber)
1/2 oz Natural Apricot Liqueur (Rothman & Winter)
1 dash Angostura Bitters
1 dash Orange Bitters (Regan's)

Stir with ice, strain into a coupe, and garnish with orange twist oil (did not discard the twist).
Two Saturdays ago, I felt like trying some of the straight spirits drinks in Martin Cate's Smuggler's Cove cocktail book, since the weather was getting a bit cooler. The one I turned to first was an aged rhum agricole cocktail that sweetened the spirit with apricot liqueur similar to John Gertsen's Rhum Agricot that called for unaged rhum agricole. Once prepared, the Abricot Vieux shared an orange, apricot, and grassy bouquet. Next, orchard fruit flavors on the sip transitioned into grassy rum and dry winter spice on the swallow.