Sexy Navel Recipe

Cocktail

1. 1

   Prepare glass

   Chill a highball or Collins glass by filling it with ice and setting aside while you mix the cocktail.

2. 2

   Muddle cherries

   Discard the ice from the chilled glass. Add 2 Luxardo cherries and 0.25 oz of the Luxardo maraschino syrup (from the jar) into a mixing glass or directly into the serving glass. Gently muddle the cherries 6–8 times to release juices and light color — avoid pulverizing seeds.

3. 3

   Build the drink

   Add 2 oz Ketel One Oranje, 0.5 oz bourbon, 1.25 oz lemon-peach juice, 0.5 oz vigne liqueur (or Lillet Blanc), 0.5 oz fresh lime juice, and 0.25 oz simple syrup (if you prefer a slightly sweeter drink) into the mixing glass with the muddled cherries. Add a large handful of ice (about 1 cup).

4. 4

   Shake

   Seal the shaker and shake vigorously for 10–12 seconds until well chilled (you'll see frost on the shaker).

5. 5

   Strain and top

   Empty the ice from the chilled serving glass. Fine-strain the shaken mixture into the glass over fresh ice leaving about 1–1.5 inches of headspace. Top with 2 oz light ginger ale. Give the drink one gentle stir (1–2 turns) to integrate the ginger ale without losing fizz.

6. 6

   Garnish and serve

   Thread a Luxardo cherry onto a cocktail pick and rest it across the rim with a lemon wheel on the rim. Serve immediately.

7. 7

   Notes

   Adjust sweetness with simple syrup to taste. If you don't have Ketel One Oranje, use plain vodka plus 0.25 oz fresh orange juice and a thin orange peel expressed over the drink. Vigne liqueur may be substituted with Lillet Blanc or a light white vermouth for similar floral/grape notes.