dutch hand

3/4 oz Genever (Bols)
3/4 oz Batavia Arrack (van Oosten)
3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth (Cocchi)
3/4 oz Campari
3 dash Chocolate Mole Bitters (Bittermens)

Stir with ice, strain into a cocktail coupe, and garnish with a cherry.

Inspired by the Right Hand at Milk & Honey and riffs like the Tres Hands, I decided to create a Genever and Batavia Arrack variation that I dubbed the Dutch Hand. The Dutch besides distilling Genever are major importers of Batavia Arrack dating back to the Dutch East India Trading Company and now with rum merchants like E&A Scheer. Moreover, the combination of Genever and Batavia Arrack was one that worked well in Sahil Mehta's Double Dutch and Ricky Gomez's Weirding Way. While those two and the Genever Gimlet with Swedish punsch (containing Batavia Arrack) were all citrus drinks, I had faith that the duo would work well in this Negroni-Boulevardier style.
The Dutch Hand reached out with a malt, funky Batavia Arrack, and fruity orange nose. Next, grape and malt mingled on the sip, and the swallow offered up funky, herbal, and orange flavors with an chocolate and orange finish. Definitely quirky, but definitely complex and delicious to my palate.