Hey everyone, I am back from a week in Chicago! I apologize I did not post any pictures of the fabulous meals and cocktails I enjoyed, just know that I spared you from extreme jealousy! Maybe the best part is I have many new recipe ideas to play with and then share with all of you.

As we get started celebrating this Memorial Day weekend, here is a riff on the classic martini variation I posted about a month ago. This drink is a bit more involved compared to the previously posted version, but do not let that dissuade you from enjoying it. The original I posted was a fancy martini (but still basically a martini) while this tipple is what I consider a “cocktail”. Containing gin, vermouth, absinthe, maraschino, and a pop of bitters, the flavors are complex and intriguing. I have tweaked this cocktail’s proportions slightly to suit my tastes – and I suggest you play with them for your own unique twist on this gem. So let’s get the long weekend started right by sipping this enjoyable drink!

Chill a cocktail glass. Add the gin, vermouth, absinthe, maraschino liqueur, and bitters into a mixing glass. Add ice and stir to chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Add the cherry and enjoy!

Enjoy!