I started out quarantine not feeling like drinking much, but at this point the day shading into evening is also peak Anxiety Hour. One night I wanted a cocktail but we were out of bourbon, a situation since remedied, but had plenty of cognac (made of grapes instead of corn mash!). Also we had Punt e Mes vermouth, so I mixed them together and added a dash of orange bitters. It was surprisingly good!
This drink is called The Quarantine because after you have one you don't feel like leaving the house. Turns out it's a riff on a Metropole or Vieux Carré, but only cognac and proportionally less vermouth. I like having less vermouth for that stronger, Manhattan-but-not-cough-syrupy flavor. Punt e Mes is also a little less saccharine than other brands of vermouth, I think. Classy!
Recipe:
2 parts Cognac
1 part Sweet Vermouth (Punt e Mes for preference)
5 shakes orange bitters
Orange peel (or clementine peel if you've sanitized your oranges and can't use the skin)
Mix the cognac and sweet vermouth together with ice in a cocktail shaker. Add bitters and stir more. Pour into a glass, probably with the ice. Squeeze the orange peel and throw it in. Wash your hands before drinking.
