nitty-gritty

1 1/2 oz Del Maguey Espadin Especial Mezcal (Mezcal Union)
1 1/2 oz La Cigarrera Manzanilla Sherry (La Gitana)
1/2 oz Benedictine
1/2 tsp Rothman & Winter Pear Liqueur
1/2 tsp Agave Nectar
1 dash Barcode Baked Apple Bitters (Dashfire Spiced Apple)
1 dash Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters (Jerry Thomas Decanter)

Stir with ice, strain into a cocktail coupe, and garnish with a lemon twist.Two Wednesdays ago, I selected the Death & Co. Cocktail Book to uncover a recipe that I had previously skipped over. There, I was lured in by Joaquin Simo's 2011 Nitty-Gritty that was his riff on Audrey Saunders' Fitty-Fitty Martini. Besides switching the gin and dry vermouth to mezcal and Manzanilla sherry, he utilized agave nectar and liqueurs to add texture and sweetness. The Nitty-Gritty showcased a lemon oil and mezcal aroma along with hints of fruit. Next, a semi-dry white wine sip with notes of caramel led into smoky agave and briny herbal flavors with a pear-clove finish.