The perfect gentleman

You’re out for the evening. A perfect gentleman, dressed in a rich but not flashy suit, hands you a drink. You sip and it fills your mouth with its rich flavor, warming but not biting, full of character but not excessively complex or challenging. Like relaxing in front of a fireplace on a cold winter’s night, in the comfortable overstuffed chair of an old lodge filled with leather and wool and dark wood beams in the ceiling.

This is the Arnaud’s Special Cocktail.

2 ounces Scotch (I used Clan MacGregor)
1 ounce Dubonnet Rouge
3 dashes orange bitters (I’ve tried both Fee Brothers West Indies Orange Bitters and Stirrings Blood Orange Bitters)
Garnished with an orange twist

The book describes this as a Scotch lovers drink and NOT something that would be enjoyed by non-Scotch lovers. Surprising then, because I loathe scotch and yet I really enjoyed this. Perhaps, with a stronger, more peaty scotch, I might not like it. But given the flavors, I can see where a smokier peatier scotch might actually work for me in this one.

And, yes, DH loved it too. We sipped ours in the hottub, but I am definitely keeping this on the menu for this winter when we use the fireplace.