Many bartenders hesitated when I told them I wanted to write a book collecting single-bottle recipes. How can you make anything like a cocktail—especially a stirred one—without vermouth, without liqueur? This drink is the perfect proof of concept, created by Nathan Shearer of Bar Swift in London. Cognac gets stirred with tangy Champagne vinegar, sweet maple syrup, and aromatic vanilla extract for a cocktail that’s silky and potent, perfect for serving after a meal. If you prefer your cocktails on the drier side, use the larger quantity of Cognac.

Ingredients

　　2 to 2 ¼ ounces Cognac

　　¼ ounce Champagne vinegar

　　¼ ounce maple syrup

　　¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

　　Garnish: lemon twist

　　Combine Cognac, vinegar, maple syrup, and vanilla in a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir until well chilled, about 30 revolutions. Strain into a chilled coupe glass, gently squeeze the lemon twist over the top to express oils, then use as a garnish.

　　From The One-Bottle Cocktail © 2018 by Maggie Hoffman. Published by Ten Speed Press.Buy the full book from Amazon.