Mad Creole Cocktail Recipe

An open bottle of madeira, too good to cook with, has been lingering in the door of the refrigerator for months. I've been a fan of fortified wine cocktails lately, so I started tinkering around and found that it pairs quite nicely with bourbon. In this cocktail recipe, the bourbon and a dash of Creole bitters balance out the sweetness of the madeira and maraschino liqueur, and there's a touch of brightness from an orange twist at the end. It's definitely got a punch but won't knock your socks off, and now you don't have to relegate the rest of your bottle of madeira to the saucepan. Cheers!  (Click "Read More" below for the full recipe.)

Mad Creole Cocktail

Makes:    1 (3-ounce) drink
Total Time:             Under 5 minutes
Hands-On Time:    Under 5 minutes

Nice to Know:    If you can't find Creole bitters, you can substitute with
                                  angostura bitters instead.

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INGREDIENTS
1 ounce bourbon
1 ounce madeira
1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur, such as Luxardo
Dash Creole bitters
Ice
Orange twist, for garnish

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INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place a small cocktail glass, such as a coupe, in the freezer to chill.
2. Place the bourbon, madeira, maraschino liqueur, and bitters in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass. Add ice to fill the glass halfway and stir with a long spoon until the outside of the glass is frosted, about 30 seconds.
3. Strain into the chilled glass. Rub the orange twist around the rim of the glass and add to the drink.