The Nice Nice

So delicious!

From Imbibe... how awesome that it's named after the bar from Fiestas and Fiascos!

My only gripe... 3/4 aperol is *much too* sweet for this drink. I used Eagle Rare for the bourbon and a little under 3/4 campari and it still came out on the sweet side. Maybe cutting down on the simple syrup would have helped, too. You can barely taste the orange flower water, which is awesome since it's so overpowering in most drinks.

2 oz. bourbon (Wallace recommends Buffalo Trace)
3/4 oz. Aperol
1/2 oz. simple syrup (1:1)
3 drops of orange flower water
4-6 fresh basil leaves
Ice cubes
Tools: shaker, strainer, fine-mesh strainer
Glass: coupe or cocktail
Garnish: fresh basil leaf

Shake all ingredients, double strain into glass and garnish.

Matt Wallace, Seven Grand, Los Angeles

As amiable as it sounds, this basil-boosted cocktail pays homage to Seven Grand lead bartender, Matt Wallace’s favorite band, Lifter Puller, who sings about the cocktail’s namesake bar. For this summery sipper, Wallace let the basil be his guide, balancing the pungent herb with a sweeter style of bourbon and an Italian aperitif. “When I was considering the ingredients, I didn’t want the basil to get buried in the whiskey,” he says, “and I thought Aperol would be a good way to bring out the herbal notes.”