any other name

2 oz Brockman's Gin (*)
1 oz Dolin Blanc Vermouth (*)
1/4 oz Combier Liqueur de Rose
2 dash Absinthe
1 dash Orange Bitters

Stir with ice, strain into a coupe glass, float a rose petal, and twist lemon oil over the petal.
(*) Here, made with 1 1/2 oz and 3/4 oz respectively for the pop-up.

Two Mondays ago, I ventured down to Kendall Square during the afternoon for the Area Four pop-up event at State Park. Bartenders Dan Lynch and Augusto Lino were showcasing some of the drinks for the Area Four location opening soon on the Ink Block in Boston. For a cocktail, I asked Dan Lynch for the Shakespearean reference, Any Other Name, and Dan explained how they riffed on the classic Attention Cocktail but switched the vermouth from dry to blanc and the floral liqueur from violette to rose. He also explained his garnish technique where he preferred to spritz the floated rose petal with the lemon oil instead of the liquid's surface since the citrus oils did not get lost into the drink and remained for the nose's appreciation longer.
The Any Other Name showcased the garnish's lemon and floral aromas along with a berry note from the gin. Next, the blanc vermouth filled the sip with a sweet white grape flavor, and the swallow offered gin, rose, and berry elements with an anise finish.