I know some of my friends are wisely on the more-sober, more-healthy path with their cocktailing, so tonight we go into the low-alcohol/low-calorie cocktail zone. The readily accessible ingredients of this one put its net alcohol by volume at about 16 percent—in the neighborhood of a vermouth, port, or sherry. 

What is Cynar? You can read more about it here, if you like, but (briefly) it’s sweet-bitter artichoke-forward amaro—readily available at better wine and liquor stores around the country. 

BITTER GIUSEPPE
2 oz Cynar
1 oz Hearty sweet vermouth (Carpano Antica or Vermouth di Torino)
¼ oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
4-6 dashes orange bitters (yes, 4-6!)

Combine the ingredients in a mixing glass, add plenty of ice, and stir until well chilled. Strain the chilled mix into a rocks or Old Fashioned glass with a big rock, and garnish with a twist of lemon zest.

The flavor, dominated by the Cynar, lives up to its name—it’s on the bitter side in a pleasant way, but flavorful with nice fruit overtones. The dash of lemon is especially nice in contrast to the vegetal fragrance of the Cynar.