Brandy Crusta

This is really the daddy of them all; ostensibly, created in New Orleans by Santini in the 1850s, and while the use of orange Curacao connects it to these other new and wannabe classics, the early version was more notable for its sugared rim and lemon spiral poking down into the glass.

1 1/2 ounces VS Cognac
1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur
1/4 ounce orange Curaçao
1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 dash Angostura bitters

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and shake well. Strain into a small cocktail glass with a lightly sugared rim, Garnish with small spiral of lemon around the inside rim of glass. Note: the 19th century cocktail glass had a narrow mouth and a wide swath of lemon peel would fit inside the rim of the glass.

ff-13