Sibona Grappa Recipe

Make honey syrup ahead by combining equal parts honey and hot water (for this recipe, mix 1/4 cup honey with 1/4 cup hot water). Stir until smooth and cool to room temperature. Chill if desired.

Cut a 1 large piece of orange peel about 1.5 x 2 inches and remove excess pith. Have one whole clove handy.

Build and shake

Add grappa, honey syrup, fresh lemon juice and orange bitters into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Add the whole clove to the shaker (this will briefly infuse aromatic clove top notes). Shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted.

Strain

Double-strain the cocktail into a chilled coupe or rocks glass (depending on presentation) using a fine mesh strainer to remove any small ice shards and the clove. If serving on the rocks, strain over a large single ice cube.

Express the orange peel over the drink by holding it skin-side down and giving it a sharp twist to spray oils onto the surface, then run the rim with the peel and drop it into the glass. Optionally, smoke briefly with a smoking gun before serving for added aromatic complexity.

Serve immediately. Sip slowly to appreciate the grappa's grape-forward character balanced by honey, citrus, bitters and a hint of clove.