Recipe

• 2oz mezcal (Montelobos)
• .5oz Amaro Sfumato Rabarbaro
• .25oz dry curaçao orange liqueur (Pierre Ferrand)
• 1 heaping barspoon of syrup from a jar of Luxardo cherries
• (optional) 1/2 barspoon (few drops) of maraschino liqueur

Stir all ingredients with ice. Use a kitchen torch to flame a star anise. Strain the drink over a large cube of ice. Set the smoky star anise on top and add a Luxardo cherry.

About

What do you do with leftover syrup from a jar of Luxardo cherries? (PS if you’ve never tried @luxardoofficial cherries, you are missing out on one of life’s delicacies – 100% worth the slightly sticker-shock price tag)

Since I cannot get myself to waste anything, hey, try it in some drinks! This one is laden with smoke from multiple sources: mezcal, a smoky amaro, and flame smoked star anise. The smoke is tamed by decadent jammy cherries, brightness from a orange liqueur, and a huge warm spice hug from the flaming peppery&licorice-y star anise. This is a slow sipper and indulgently delicious. Try it both with and without a couple dashes of the herbal nutty maraschino liqueur and taste as the entire drink profile transforms. 😉