Hainuwele

• 1.5 oz. aged rum (Don Q Gran Añejo)
• 0 75 oz. Meletti
• 0.5 oz. Clement Mahina Coconut Rhum Liqueur
• 0.25 oz. lemon juice
• 0.125 oz. crème de menthe (Tempus Fugit)
• dash of Angostura bitters

Shake with ice and strain into coupe.

Coconut and mint were the catalyst here. I wanted lots of bitter to counter the sweetness, so went for an amaro in Meletti, bolstered by Angostura. For acid I added the lemon. The Don Q made a nice base, but honestly I took it off my shelf in order to finish the bottle.

The name comes from The Coconut Girl creation myth from Indonesia. It’s a trip, so I encourage you to look it up. But it’s only the coconut reference I was looking for. Google leads you down some fascinating paths. Just have a nice drink in your hand as you go down the rabbit hole.

Il Gioiello

• 2.0 oz. Truffle Gin (Dioniso)
• 0.5 oz. Benedictine
• 0.5 oz. dry vermouth
• dash of mole bitters

Stir with ice and strain into coupe. Garnish with black truffle, if you have it. I did not.

My wife and I recently took our 20th anniversary in Italy, visiting Venice. There I found a truffle store that was offering a truffle gin. This gin on the nose is pure truffle. I fell in love. It is there at the initial taste, but isn’t overwhelming.

The picture here includes a coaster I bought there, a lace doily from Burano, and a mask ornament my parents got me on their previous trip.

The name is Italian for a jewel, which is a translation of Bijou, which is what this cocktail is based on. Truffle Gin here replaces London Dry, with mole bitters also replacing orange bitters.

Aren’t we fancy with our truffle, pig-rooted truffle gin? Saluti!

Louisiane and Maine

• 2.0 oz. Rye
• 0.5 oz. Sweet Vermouth
• 0.25 oz. Benedictine
• 0.25 oz. Cherry Heering
• dash of Peychaud’s bitters
• dash of Angostura bitters
• dash of absinthe

Stir with ice and strain into glass.

Meld of two of my favorite (and similar) drinks, Remember the Maine and A La Louisiane cocktails, which only differ by using either Benedictine or Cherry Heering. Here I’ve used both, and lessened the sweet vermouth.

The name, then, is obvious, though for me it sounds like an intersection of streets, not drinks, or states. An intersection it is, so I like it. And I’ll be on that corner raising a glass.