This recipe is designed to be aged in a barrel… or in a glass bottle with a small, charred oak stave dropped into it. (The Black Grouse provided a stave for us to play with.) Fun results. The name of the cocktail is spot-on for this one.

Smoky Old Mate
4.5 oz. The Black Grouse
3 oz. Cynar
3 oz. Carpano Antica
3 dashes grapefruit bitters

Combine all ingredients in bottle with charred wooden stave. Contents will be ready to drink after one week, but liquid will continue to age as long as stave is in the bottle. Makes 3 cocktails.

To prepare: Pour 3.5 oz. over ice in a mixing glass and stir. Strain over fresh ice and garnish with an orange peel.

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