Bonfire Kiss

Kellie Thorn, Empire State South | Atlanta

In Atlanta, Kellie Thorn of Empire State South gets whimsical with her take on the “something smoky” request: the Bonfire Kiss, a mix of mezcal, sherry and crème de cacao topped with apple bitters and garnished with a cinnamon stick, which is intended to resemble a wintertime log on the fireplace.

The cocktail is best made with a mezcal—specifically Del Maguey’s Vida—which, according to Thorn, offers some fruitiness. “It already has great fruit notes that plays well with the liquor and bitters,” she explains, adding that the sherry’s perceivable acidity balances out the drink’s sweetness. “There is something familiar and nostalgic about these flavors coming together,” she says. “[It] reminds me of being at a fair with your loved one on a cold night, eating caramel apples.”

Ingredients

Serving: 1

  • 1 1/2 ounce mezcal, preferably Del Maguey Vida
  • 1 1/2 ounce mezcal, preferably Del Maguey Vida
  • 1 ounce oloroso sherry, preferably Toro Albala Marques de Poley
  • 1 ounce oloroso sherry, preferably Toro Albala Marques de Poley
  • 1/2 ounce crème de cacao, preferably Tempus Fugit
  • 1/2 ounce crème de cacao, preferably Tempus Fugit
  • 5 dashes apple bitters, preferably Bar Keep
  • 5 dashes apple bitters, preferably Bar Keep

Garnish: cinnamon stick split lengthwise

Directions
  1. Combine mezcal, sherry and créme de cacao in a mixing glass with ice and stir.
  2. Strain into a chilled double Old Fashioned glass over one large cube of ice.
  3. Top with five dashes of apple bitters.
  4. Garnish with a cinnamon stick that has been split in half lengthwise.