spring blossom

1 1/2 oz Mezcal (Fidencio)
3/4 oz Dolin Blanc Vermouth
3/4 oz Suze Gentian Liqueur
2 dash Bittermens Mole Bitters (Bitter Truth Chocolate)

Build in a rocks glass, add a large ice cube, stir to mix and chill, and garnish with a grapefruit twist (orange twist).Two Wednesdays ago, I had pulled Eric Alperin's Unvarnished from the bookshelf to reference something, and while it was out, I began to peruse the recipe section in the middle. Under the recipe for the White Negroni was a note about the mezcal-chocolate bitters variation created at the Varnish by Gordon Bellaver called the Spring Blossom. It shared similarities with the White Mezcal Negroni that I had earlier this year but pre-dated it. Once prepared, the Spring Blossom gave forth orange, wood smoke, and earthy aromas. Next, a white grape sip bloomed into mezcal, vegetal, and smoke flavors on the swallow with a chocolate and smoke finish.