Nineteen

There's evidence out there that this drink gets its name from either the average age of American soldiers in Vietnam or maybe it is simply a date: the 1900s, for example. After all, people's impression of cocktails as a modern concept really begins in the 20th century.

The ingredients of the original are listed below.

• 3 oz. dry vermouth
• 1/2 oz. kirschwasser
• 1/2 oz. gin
• 1/4 tsp. Pernod
• 1/4 tsp. sugar syrup

This is a vermouth, gin and kirschwasser drink that has herbal absinthe-like flavor from liqueurs like Pernod. Dry vermouth is a huge component of the drink, and I wanted to use part of that portion by substituting a D.C. local fennel spirit, Don Ciccio & Figili Finocchietto. This adds sweetness that allows you to omit sugar syrup. It also has a softer fennel and dill flavor to round out the anise of Pernod.

My adjusted D.C. local recipe is below.

• 1 1/2 oz. dry vermouth
• 1 1/2 oz. Don Ciccio & Figili Finocchietto
• 1/2 oz. kirschwasser
• 1/2 oz. gin
• 1/4 tsp. Pernod

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