The hpnotini

Simple. Refreshing. Lethal.

P.S. Kids, don't try this at home: that's oleander, which is poisonous.

Those are the three words that I would use to describe a cocktail I call the Hpnotini, a potent blend of Hpnotiq liqueur, vodka and blood orange bitters. Usually I would eschew blue (especially curacao) because of childhood trauma over the Ty-D-Bol Man, but Hpnotiq, when served in the proper glass and blended with vodka, looks like cool sea water, soothing and capable of sailing you far, far away. Far enough away to feel like you’re on vacation in your own back yard.

The recipe is simple:

Combine equal parts Hpnotiq and good-quality vodka (start with 2 oz. each), plus a splash of blood orange bitters. Blend ahead of time and chill (along with the glasses), or pour over ice in a shaker, shake for 30 seconds and then strain into a beautiful stemmed glass. Garnish with an edible flower, if you wish. That’s all you need to sail away on your back yard vacation.