cornerstone

1 1/2 oz Cachaça (Novo Fogo Bar Strength)
1/2 oz Grenadine
1/4 oz Fernet (Fernet Branca)
2 dash Orange Bitters (Angostura Orange)

Stir with ice, strain into a coupe, and garnish with an orange twist.Two Fridays prior, I was flipping through the Raising the Bar book by Jacob Grier and Brett Adams when I landed upon the Cornerstone by Dragon Axinte, founder of Novo Fogo Cachaça. I soon found a pair of references online that dated this drink to circa 2011, and Axinte crafted this after discovering Fernet as something that bartenders were into. Overall, the structure of spirit complemented by grenadine and Fernet reminded me of the Dickensian Villain and perhaps the Jim Rose (if you ignore the lime juice), so I was curious. Once stirred and strained, the Cornerstone showcased an orange oil, grassy funk, berry, and menthol aroma. Next, a red berry sip concluded with grassy melding into minty menthol flavors with red fruit undertones on the swallow.