the dry season

1 oz Del Maguey Mezcal Vida (Peloton de la Muerte)
1 oz El Tesoro Platinum Tequila (Olmeca Altos)
1 oz Cocchi Americano
>1/2 oz Aperol (3/8 oz)

Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail coupe.Two Saturdays ago, I was scanning the KindredCocktails database when I came across The Dry Season by Kyle Davidson at Chicago's Violet Hour circa 2010. The combination reminded me of an agave version of Charlotte Voisey's Unusual Negroni (equal parts Hendrick's Gin, Lillet, Aperol) which I later tried in Johnny Appleseed with applejack, Vita Brevis with rye, and a few other examples. Here with agave, it began with vegetal, smoke, and orchard fruit aromas. Next, orange, pear, and a hint of grapefruit peel on the sip transferred to smoky agave and bitter orange flavors on the swallow.