the 212

2 oz Partida Reposado Tequila (Cimarron Reposado)
1 oz Aperol
2 oz Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice

Shake with ice, strain into a Collins glass, top with ice, and garnish with an orange twist.

Two Tuesdays ago, I spotted a recipe for the 212, so I went to the first place that I had spotted it -- the PDT Cocktail Book. Jim Meehan provided the history that Contemporary Cocktails' Aisha Sharpe and Willy Shine crafted this tribute to Manhattan's telephone prefix in New York City circa 2008. Willy replied to my Instagram post with a bit more history by explaining, "This was a beautiful drink that bartenders around around that time would love & hate. Love because it is delicious and easy to make and order. Hate because the 2 oz of fresh grapefruit would quickly diminish their nightly par of juice if you ordered a few of them which typically happened."
The 212 gave forth an orange and agave nose that preceded a pink grapefruit sip with a touch of orange from the Aperol. Next, tequila melded into the light bitter herbal notes of Aperol and helped to conjure up a grapefruit pith taste on the finish.