Libertine

by Charles Joly, The Drawing Room, Chicago

Ingredients

1oz
Carpano Antica Formula

or another sweet vermouth

0.75oz
Lime Juice

freshly squeezed

1whole

Preparation

Fill a stemmed glass with ice. In a shaker, combine the absinthe, Gewürztraminer, 1 ounce vermouth, lime juice, and simple syrup and shake with ice until chilled. Discard the ice from the stemmed glass, shaking out excess water. Strain the contents of the shaker into the chilled glass. Top with the 3 drops vermouth and the orange flower water. Garnish with edible flowers.

Glass
Coupe Glass
Ice
None

The Libertine balances absinthe's herbal intensity against the lush, lychee-like sweetness of Gewürztraminer and the vanilla-spiced depth of sweet vermouth. Fresh lime cuts through the richness, while a whisper of orange blossom adds an aromatic lift to the finish. The result is a drink that feels both decadent and surprisingly refreshing, with anise threading through each sip without overwhelming the delicate floral and fruit notes.