The Barman Cometh

Recently picked up a bottle of Torani Amer, the American version of the French bitter orange amaro called Amer Picon.  Amer Picon is a feature of many a classic cocktail, such as Picon Punch.  Sadly, there are no longer any American importers of Amer Picon.  Un-sadly, Torani – the folks who brought you the flavoured coffee syrups – make their own version, which by a wacky twist, is supposedly closer in flavor to the original taste of Amer Picon, which was re-formulated in the 1970s to a lower proof.  Whew – long story.   Some think the Torani Amer is a bit more vegetal/celery than the Amer Picon such that drinks like the Picon Punch taste off using it,  making it worthwhile to mix up your own replica of the original, but that takes two months!  Regardless, the Hoskins was invented with the Torani Amer specifically in mind, so really, who needs to wait that long.

2 oz. gin
3/4 oz. Torani Amer or Amer Picon
1/2 oz. marascino liqueur
1/4 oz. Cointreau
dash of orange bitters

Stir with ice for least 30 seconds and strain into cocktail glass.  Flame an orange peel over glass and garnish with peel.