The Nico Melendez
Nicole Kane, a bartender at the elegant cocktail bar at the Merchant Hotel in Belfast, Northern Ireland, devised this sophisticated rum-based cocktail. It requires a bit of work — two syrups must be made — but the results are impressive. For optimal flavor, freshly squeezed juices are essential. (Any leftover cinnamon syrup — and those chocolate bitters — can be deployed to make a delicious, surprising variation on an Old-Fashioned).
Ingredients
- 2oz. dark rum
- 1oz. freshly squeezed blood-orange juice
- ½oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1tsp. molasses syrup (2:1 ratio of molasses to boiling water, cooled)
- 1tsp. cinnamon syrup (see recipe)
- 1dash chocolate bitters
- Mint sprigs
- Orange twist
- Cracked cinnamon
Instructions
Step 1
Shake the liquid ingredients with ice, and strain into a rocks glass filled with cracked ice. Garnish with the mint sprigs, orange twist and cinnamon.