choke hold

1 1/2 oz Reposado Tequila (Cimarron)
3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth (Lacuesta Rojo)
1/2 oz Cynar
1/2 tsp Maraschino Liqueur (Luxardo)

Stir with ice, strain into a cocktail coupe, and garnish with an orange twist.Two Mondays, I opened up Trevor Felch's San Francisco Cocktails and spotted the Choke Hold. This Cynar pun-named drink was crafted by Isaac Shumway at the California Gold bar as his Brooklyn variation using tequila, although the name and ingredients reminded me more of the Artichoke Hold. Once prepared, the Choke Hold presented an orange, nutty cherry, and vegetal aroma. Next, caramel and grape notes on the sip gave way to tequila and herbal flavors on the swallow with a vegetal and nutty cherry finish.