heaven or las vegas

1 1/2 oz Evan Williams Bourbon
3/4 oz St. Agrestis Infernal Bitter
3/4 oz Byrrh Quinquina
1 dash Ceylon Cinnamon Bitters.

Stir with ice, strain into a single old fashioned with ice, and garnish with a lemon twist.

As mentioned in the Jack Kearns post, I was headed into New York City for a new work venture. After my responsibilities were finished for the day on Wednesday, I was already in the East Village, so I headed a few blocks over to Amor y Amargo. There, I asked bartender Mel for the Heaven or Las Vegas -- I was not sure whether my love of the Cocteau Twins that began in the 1990s or the ingredients list drew me in more (Heaven or Las Vegas was the band's 6th album). The mystery ingredient in the mix was Infernal Bitter that was created by a Brooklyn-based company, and this aperitivo "has Campari bitterness, with more herbal complexity, more freshness, all natural color, and uses 100% organic ingredients. A juicy and refreshing combination of fruits, vegetables, and flowers... [with] three macerations: a bitter maceration, a floral maceration, and a citrus maceration." Essentially, the combination seemed to fall into the camp of a Boulevardier riff.
Once prepared, the Heaven or Las Vegas wafted to the senses with a lemon oil and orange-herbal aroma. Next, a citrus and grape sip gave way to a Campari-like swallow with a spicy cinnamon and vegetal pepper finish.