Brandon Wise is corporate director of beverage operations for Sage Restaurant Group in Denver, CO.

Lately I’ve been transfixed by the classic Martini and its many variations. One that I’m particularly fond of is the Atty cocktail, which has over time also been loosely referred to as the Attention or Arsenic and Old Lace. They are all related to the Atty’s predecessor, the Attention cocktail, was first seen in publication in Hugo Enselin’s 1916 tome Recipes for Mixed Drinks, but has been vastly improved upon since.

Harry Craddock adapted this recipe in his masterpiece, the Savoy Cocktail Book, and it is this more restrained recipe that has endured the test of time. The devil certainly is in the details in the mixing of this enigmatic Martini riff: Without careful measure, any one ingredient can become a dominant flavor and send it out of balance. But when in harmony, these ingredients sing together unlike any other combination in the Martini family—a true classic to be sure.

Atty Cocktail

2 oz. London Dry gin
¾ oz. Dolin Dry French vermouth
⅛ oz. Rothman and Winter Crème de Violette
⅛ oz. Kubler absinthe
Lemon twist

Build all ingredients in mixing glass, except for absinthe, add ice and stir until well diluted and chilled. Add absinthe to coupe glass filled with ice to chill glass and coat the interior. Discard contents of coupe glass once the glass is well chilled, then strain mixture into the absinthe rinsed coupe. Garnish with manicured twist of lemon after expressing oils over the top of the drink.