Lost Horizon

 

Story

Lost Horizon is an Old Fashioned variant created by Tyson Buhler, manager of beverage operations at New York bar Death & Co and winner of the 2015 World Bartending Championship.  The drink features a split base of cognac and Jamaican rum with Fernet Brance serving as the bitter ingredient.  The sweetener is a banana liqueur from Giffard, a French company that makes a series of outstanding flavored liqueurs that avoid tasting either artificial or too sweet.  In the case of Giffard banana du Brasil, it smells and tastes like banana bread.  The Lost Horizon is rich, fruity, smooth, and bittersweet.  The subtle smoke from the Islay scotch rinse is great, but if you’re smoke-averse the drink is terrific without the rinse as well.

 

Recipe

Islay scotch (Laphroaig 10-year), to rinse
1 oz cognac
1 oz Jamaican rum
2 tsp Giffard banana du Brasil
1 tsp Fernet Branca
-Rinse rocks glass with scotch and dump excess.
-measure remaining ingredients into mixing glass with ice.  Stir to chill.  Pour into glass.
-express orange twist and use as a garnish.