Urban Anxiety

Pro tips

• Chill your glass before serving to maintain the cocktail's temperature and balance spirit-forward flavors.
• When flaming the grapefruit twist, hold it at a safe distance and use a quick pass to avoid over-charring—the goal is caramelized oil, not burnt peel.
• Measure precisely with a jigger: cachaça and sweet vermouth benefit from exact proportions to avoid muddling the Cynar's herbal bite.

Substitutions

• Cachaça → Rhum agricole (similar vegetal profile, slightly different regional character)
• Cynar → Averna or Fernet-Branca (swap bitter-herbal notes, though intensity and flavor shift)
• Sweet Vermouth → Dolin or Carpano Antica Formula (adjusts sweetness and spice balance)

Storage & make-ahead

Cocktails should be consumed immediately after preparation; store ingredients separately in cool, dark conditions.

Equipment

bar spoon · jigger · cocktail shaker or mixing glass · bar lighter or match

What does Cynar taste like in cocktails?

Cynar is an Italian amaro with prominent artichoke, herb, and bitter notes that add herbal complexity and dry finish to mixed drinks.

How do you flame a grapefruit twist?

Express the grapefruit peel over the drink to release oils, then hold the peel near a lit match or bar lighter briefly to caramelize the oils before dropping it in.

Can I make this drink without Cynar?

Possible substitutes include Averna or Fernet-Branca for bitter-herbal character, though the flavor profile will shift noticeably.

Is this a pre-dinner or after-dinner drink?

With its herbal, bitter-forward profile, Urban Anxiety functions as an aperitif to stimulate appetite before a meal.

What glassware should I use?

Serve in a coupe, cocktail, or rocks glass depending on preferred dilution—rocks glass with ice for a longer drink, up in a coupe for a spirit-forward serve.