dinosaurs before dark

1 1/2 oz Gin (Bombay Dry)
1 oz Cocchi Americano or Lillet (Cocchi Americano)
1/4 oz Campari
1/4 oz Apricot Liqueur (Rothman & Winter)
2 dash Angostura Bitters
1 dash Absinthe (12 drop Copper & Kings)

Stir with ice, strain into a cocktail glass, and garnish with an orange twist.Two Fridays ago, I had been thinking about Joaquin Simo's Sweet Valley High, and I decided to put my own spin on it by changing the liqueur and bitters and by adding a light touch of absinthe. To keep with Joaquin's name, I dubbed this one Dinosaurs Before Dark after another young adult book series. In the glass, the Dinosaurs Before Dark proffered an orange aroma that led into peach and orchard fruit notes on the sip. Finally, gin, melon, clove, and anise flavors came through on the swallow.