big chief

2 oz Bourbon (Old Grand-Dad Bonded)
1/2 oz Averna
1/2 oz Punt e Mes

Stir with ice, strain into a Nick & Nora glass (cocktail coupe), and garnish with a flamed orange twist (unflamed twist).

Two Wednesdays ago, I was browsing the BarNotes app for a cocktail to make, and I spotted Abigail Gullo's Longshoreman that seemed appealing with rye, Averna, and Punt e Mes. Since it was close to Misty Kalkofen's Brooklyn Brawler, I opted for Abigail's Bourbon variation that she crafted in 2013 at New Orleans' SoBou called the Big Chief. Her riff on the Red Hook was described in a PunchDrinks article as having been "named after the Big Chief Indians down here in New Orleans that lead their tribes in the St. Joseph's Day parade."
The Big Chief greeted the senses with an orange, Bourbon, herbal, and grape aroma. Next, Punt e Mes' grape and the Averna's caramel mingled on the sip, and the swallow gave forth Bourbon and bitter fruit flavors including orange and cherry.