Drink of the Week: Cynar Sour

This is not a drink for the timid. Cynar is a Italian digestivo: it's super bitter and has a very assertive personality. Traditionally it's drunk neat, in tiny glasses, before or after a meal. Using it in a cocktail smooths the rough edges down and makes for a very intriguing drink. This cocktail comes from Food & Wine's Cocktails 2010. This series of cocktail books is a great resource if you're looking for interesting cocktail bar recipes.

An egg white produces the nice frothy cap on the top of the drink. It also softens any harsh notes in the Cynar. The inclusion of the egg white requires that you shake the drink very hard to blend the white into the cocktail.

Cynar Sour

Combine in an iced cocktail shaker:

• 2 ounces Cynar
• 1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• 1/4 ounce honey
• 1/2 egg white

Shake very hard, until the shaker frosts over. Strain into a cocktail glass or coupe and garnish with a long strip of orange peel.