island of misfit toys

2 oz Del Maguey Mezcal Vida
1/2 oz Meletti Amaro
1/2 oz Kümmel
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a rocks glass. Twist an orange peel over the top.

Two Wednesdays ago, we stopped in at Brick & Mortar where Joe Staropoli and Evan Harrison were tending bar. For a drink, I asked Joe if there was anything interesting from recent Spin the Bottle events. Joe showed me a list from late December for the Drinkle Bells night featuring Brother Cleve as the DJ, and the Island of Misfit Toys stood out as the winner. The name is a reference to the place in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer where flawed and unattractive playthings end up; luckily, there was no jack-in-the-box sentry that I had to get around to have this libation.
The Island of Misfit Toys offered an orange oil and smoky agave aroma. A caramel sip gave way to a mezcal swallow which showcased the kümmel's caraway and cumin spice and the amaro's herbal elements. The Meletti seemed to take the edge off of the mezcal and the kümmel, but as the drink warmed up, the kümmel began to play a larger role in the flavor balance.