Macaroon

This pretty drink is designed to taste like those European sandwich cookies flavored with almond, cocoa, and orange zest. The recipe calls for chocolate liqueur. I used MurLarkey cocoa whiskey--which is not a liqueur. I added a half teaspoon of sugar to sweeten the half ounce of cocoa whiskey in the drink.

My Macaroon turned out very good, rich but not too sweet. Cocoa whiskey has a little more rawness of cocoa nibs and grain liqueur--it's not as smooth as creme de cacao. A large orange zest twisted over the drink and rubbed on the rim really helps cut the surgery ingredients.

• 3 oz. vodka (Divine Clarity used)
• 1/2 oz. chocolate liqueur (MurLarkey cocoa whiskey and a half tsp. sugar syrup used)
• 1/2 oz. amaretto
• orange twist

Combine liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Twist orange peel over the drink and drop it in the glass.