heart of stone

1 oz Bourbon (Evan Williams Bonded)
1/2 oz Mezcal (Peloton de la Muerte)
3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth (Alessio)
3/4 oz Cynar 70° Proof (Cynar, original 33° Proof)
6 drop Saline (20%)

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with a flamed orange twist (unflamed). Two Thursdays ago, I spotted the Heart of Stone on my Instagram feed attributed to Stuart Weaver, owner and general manager of Lady Jane in Denver. I tracked the drink down to a Bartender Magazine article that describes how this Cynar for Campari split base Boulevardier was developed on the fly mid-Pandemic. Overall, it reminded me on paper of the Last American Hero with Bourbon instead of rye and without bitters; I used to make the Last American Hero a bit when I worked at Drink where I described it as a gussied up Little Italy. In the glass, the Heart of Stone conjured an orange, caramel, vegetal, and smoke bouquet for the nose. Next, caramel, grape, and plum notes on the sip charged forth into sweet Bourbon meeting smoky, herbal bitter flavors on the swallow.