Le Mans
I’m not a huge fan of the oft recycled origin stories for cocktails, but I have a soft spot for the one behind the Bentley, which inspired this cocktail. The British racing team won Le Mans in 1927 and the celebration at the Savoy included a signature cocktail built on Calvados and Dubonnet rouge. I took the original formula and added dimension with flavors of juniper, tea, citrus, and black pepper.
INGREDIENTS
1½ oz. Calvados
1 oz. quinquina rouge
½ oz. London dry gin
¼ oz. Swedish punsch
Lemon twist, for garnish
Black pepper, for garnish
ABV LEVEL
Combine spirituous ingredients in a mixing glass. Add plenty of ice and stir rapidly for 20 seconds. Strain into a stemmed cocktail glass. Express the oils from a lemon peel onto the surface of the drink; discard peel. Grind fresh black pepper atop.
