Matador (CocktailDB)

There is more than one cocktail named Matador. The New York Bartender's Guide has one by this name involving pineapple juice and lime juice, a sort of Margarita in a coup glass. The one I made here is a vermouth, curacao and tequila up drink. I found it on cocktaildb.com. I wanted to make a heavy blanco vermouth cocktail that had Spanish flair with the Spanish vermouth I just got.

Vermut Lacuesta is from a Spanish winemaker, Martinez Lacuesta. The blanco variety is mild and less herbaceous than French vermouth. It has a rich sauvignon blanc wine flavor and is so good for sipping by itself that it works well as a cocktail base. It's the kind of thing you can drink all afternoon on ice or in a cocktail without any ill results.

Here's how to make the Matador (CocktailDB version).

• 1 oz. dry (blanco used) vermouth
• 1 oz. curacao (triple sec used)
• 1 oz. blanco tequila

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and stain into a chilled cocktail glass.