the great silence

1 1/2 oz High West Double Rye (Rittenhouse)
3/4 oz Aperol
1/4 oz Maraschino (Luxardo)
1/2 oz Lime Juice
3 dash Absinthe (1/2 tsp Kübler)

Shake with ice, strain into a cocktail coupe, and garnish with a lemon twist.Two Wednesdays ago, I was perusing the Kindred Cocktails database when I spotted the Great Silence by Ciaran Wiese at 47 Salt in Tucson, Arizona. The recipe came by way of the High West brand site, but it did not provide a date; I estimate to be around 2009-11 before Ciaran moved up to Portland, Oregon, in 2012. Since the concept seemed like a Prospect Park mashed up with a Division Bell, I was game to give it a go. In the glass, it proffered lemon, anise, and nutty cherry aromas. Next, orange notes on the sip led to whiskey and cherry flavors on the swallow followed by a lime and anise finish. Overall, I was surprised at first how the rye whiskey worked better than expected with the lime juice, but as the drink warmed up over time, the two clashed a bit on the palate.