Choke Artist

Chris Amirault, Otium | Los Angeles

Amaro Cocktail Recipe

Chris Amirault looked back to his early days as a bartender when developing the Choke Artist. “I was trying to memorize every recipe and wasn’t able to retain a single one,” says Amirault. “I would practice making drinks at home and would mess them up every time. But as most artists would agree, sometimes the best creative ideas are born out of mistakes.” Amirault’s “mistake” takes inspiration from the aperitivo tradition of Milan and the Negroni, using a combination of Cynar and Cynar 70 for the bitter element, and tequila in place of gin, in smaller measure. “It’s still in the Negroni family, but the bitterness brought on from the Cynar is the star of the show.”

Ingredients

Serving: 1

  • 1 1/2 ounces Cynar
  • 1 1/2 ounces Cynar
  • 1/4 ounce Cynar 70
  • 1/4 ounce Cynar 70
  • 3/4 ounce bianco vermouth
  • 3/4 ounce bianco vermouth
  • 1/2 ounce reposado tequila
  • 1/2 ounce reposado tequila

Garnish: grapefruit twist

Directions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass over ice and stir until chilled.
  2. Strain into a double Old-Fashioned glass.
  3. Garnish with a grapefruit twist.