Trident
Aquavit, dry sherry and Cynar form a bitter, savory-associated aperitif structure, with peach and orange bitters as accents.
DrinkBoy published specification · 1 reference serve.
Glassware
Technique
Ice
Garnish
Preparation effort
Ingredients & measurements
| Ingredient | mL | US fl oz | Source measure / qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| dry sherry | 29.57 | 1 | 1 ounce dry sherry |
| Cynar | 29.57 | 1 | 1 ounce Cynar |
| aquavit | 29.57 | 1 | 1 ounce aquavit |
| 1 dash peach bitters | — | — | 1 dash peach bitters |
| 1 dash orange bitters | — | — | 1 dash orange bitters |
Converted equivalents are rounded for display; use one measurement system consistently. Dashes, spoonfuls, fruit counts and unspecified top-ups remain source measures. A blank equivalent does not mean zero.
How to make it
Stir the measured ingredients over ice until cold, then strain into a chilled glass.
Glass: Cocktail glass. Ice: None in serving glass. Garnish: Lemon twist.
Flavor & balance
- Bitter (dominant): Bitter aperitif, amaro or tonic supplies an intentional bitter counterweight.
- Boozy (Spirit-Forward) (dominant): Little nonalcoholic lengthening leaves the spirit or fortified ingredients prominent after chilling and dilution.
- Earthy / Herbal (supporting): Botanicals, fresh herbs or the base spirit give aromatic plant character; this is not a basic taste.
Dry vermouth or a dry style name describes low sweetness, not proven astringency. These flavor expectations are based on recipe structure, not measured tasting scores. Actual products, ice and dilution will change the result.
Preparation & batching
Service complexity: low. Batchability: premix with dilution trial.
- Measure and label the chosen product specification; chill appropriate glassware.
Finish chilling, dilution and garnish at service. Trial the actual serving method before approving a batch. Workload is an editorial assessment; no labor timing or storage validation is claimed.
Spirit & ingredient choices
Recipe notes & variations
This is Robert Hess’s own later reference with both peach and orange bitters; he recommends amontillado sherry. It is not a universal equal-parts aperitif formula.
For a Black Flannel variation, change one component at a time and record the selected product, proof, sweetener concentration and dilution. Compare it with this reference before naming or publishing the variation.
Compare: Boulevardier, Negroni, Old Pal, Rosita, White Negroni.
Sources & further reading
- Robert Hess / DrinkBoy — checked 2026-09-18. Recipe identity and published ingredient specification; editorial sensory and workload assessments are not source tasting results.