Shagbark's Sangaree (Madeira and Lemon Cocktail) Recipe

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

This drink, created by Derek Salerno of Shagbark in Richmond, Virginia, is packed with flavor, but not too much alcohol. In other words, it's ideal for pre-dinner sipping when you expect many glasses of wine to follow. The cocktail's deep, sweet, and nutty flavor comes from Madeira—look for a bottle labeled "Malmsey" to get the proper level of sweetness. The fortified wine tastes a bit like salted caramel and walnuts; the drink is brightened by shaking the Madeira with ice, simple syrup, and fresh lemon juice. If you're scaling up the recipe, shake no more than two cocktails at a time.