In the last year I have gone from loathing the idea of cocktails to really, really liking them. I owe much of it to Liberty Bar, where I had my first really bitter gin cocktail. Bitter is a flavor I just wasn’t seeing much in the world of girlie cocktails, but it’s really opened up my appreciation for booze combining.

After some home experimentation (and some more trips out to bars with pre-Prohibition-style cocktail menus), we’ve discovered that we are both very fond of tart gin-based drinks such as the Corpse Reviver, the Pegu and the Jasmine. The latter is a current favorite, new to our house since we just bought our first bottle of Campari. It’s bitter, complex, and – as a plus – it’s bright pink! You get all the appeal of a Cosmo without actually having to drink one.

Jasmine Cocktail

• 1 ½ oz Gin
• ¾ oz Campari
• 1 oz Cointreau
• juice of half a lemon
• lemon twist

Shake the spirits and lemon juice with ice, strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist. Drink!