Ruirita Recipe

[Photograph: Jessica Leibowitz]

This drink was developed by Cocktail 101 columnist Michael Dietsch and shared on his blog A Dash of Bitters. It's a complex, brooding spin on the Margarita that incorporates Cynar, rhubarb bitters, and orange flower water. He writes:

I built the Ruirita in a mixing glass, stirring and tasting. I added the tequila, Cynar, lime, and bitters first, not wanting to deviate far from a traditional margarita. But Cynar's more bitter than a Cointreau or another triple sec, so I needed a bit of sweetness. I didn't want to add another liqueur—frankly, with tequila, Cynar, rhubarb, lime, and orange, there's already enough going on with the drink's flavor. So I added a touch of simple syrup, to provide neutral sweetening. What resulted was a pretty damn good drink, I thought. Well balanced and complex, but not confused.

While this isn't a drink for beginners or the alcohol-averse, those who are looking to experiment with Cynar should give this one a try.