Penultimatum

• 1.5 oz. London Dry gin
• 0.5 oz. Yellow Chartreuse
• 0.5 oz. Cocchi Americano
• 0.25 oz. Clear Creek Douglas Fir brandy
• 0.25 oz. lemon juice
• 1 barspoon of absinthe

Shake with ice and double strain into coupe.

This drink started as a Last Word variant that took a hard left turn, then another left and right, and finally did some donuts over ice before reaching its final destination. I kept the gin and swapped in yellow for the green Chartreuse and lemon for the lime. I didn’t want too sweet, so instead of a liqueur I grabbed the Cocchi vermouth, which added all I needed with some additional bitterness. It was nice, but nothing outstanding or standout. I played with adding a bit of Kummel, which was an interesting move in the right direction, but still not it. At that point a friend suggested the douglas fir brandy or a bit of absinthe. I opted for both, and the result was exactly what I was looking for.

The name reflects that journey a little bit. Ultimatum is more a last choice than a last word, but it fit for me. But the evolving progression of this drink didn’t suggest “final” to me, but maybe close to. Thus the portmanteau of Penultimatum, a made up word for made up drink.