I’m toasting the Bookmark Box with another good story in a glass. This one was created by New York City bartender Rafa Garcia Febles, who is currently the beverage director and assistant manager at Hav&Mar. I once featured another of Febles’ cocktails, based on Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, a story of many stories told with a jaded eye in Sondheim’s inimitable style. That one is also an excellent cold weather cocktail perfect for this season.

The Storyville tells a story going back to the start of Febles’ bartender days a decade ago. With a mixed base of cognac and mezcal augmented by rich and mildly bitter French Bonal aperitif, it drinks like an unusual, smoky Manhattan. Yellow Chartreuse adds hints of herb and more sweetness, rounding out the story with side characters and subplots. It’s another interesting chapter for the fireside this time of year you just might want to bookmark. Cheers!

Storyville by Rafa Garcia Febles

1 oz brandy

1 oz mezcal

¾ oz Bonal Gentiane Quina

¼ oz yellow Chartreuse

1 dash Angostura bitters

Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a favorite glass over a large cube. Lemon peel/twist garnish.

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