Apricot Cocktail

At my restaurant, I get to play around with fresh, local ingredients. That was the point of doing this cocktail here! I made this apricot brandy using pitted apricots soaked in brandy for a few days. After pressing the soggy fruit into the brandy, I added sugar and cognac and strained out the pulps.

The difference a homemade apricot brandy makes is very important to a cocktail in which the main ingredient is apricot brandy. You wouldn't want to do this with some cheap sugary liqueur.

I'm also showing off Cirrus, a potato vodka produced locally in Virginia. It is a great sipping vodka on its own, but it is super in a cocktail like this. Here's to summer!

• 1 oz. apricot brandy
• 1 tbsp. vodka or grain neutral spirits (Cirrus used)
• 1tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 tbsp. orange juice
• 1 apricot slice (optional)

Combine liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the apricot slice. (optional)