Art of Choke
Two rums, Cynar and mint — the sleeper hit of the amaro canon.
The Method
How to make it
- 01
Gently press the mint leaves in the bottom of a mixing tin — bruise, don't shred.
- 02
Add Cynar, rum, Chartreuse, lime and syrup with ice and shake briefly, about 8 seconds.
- 03
Dump everything, ice included, into a rocks glass and top with crushed ice.
- 04
Slap a mint sprig between your palms and plant it next to a straw.
Bartender's Tip
Crushed ice is mandatory. Cubes leave the drink under-diluted and the Chartreuse takes over within two sips.
A Little History
Kyle Davidson built the Art of Choke at Chicago's Violet Hour around 2009, and the name is a wink at Cynar's artichoke base. It's the drink most often credited with converting sceptics: the mint and lime reframe Cynar's vegetal bitterness as something bright rather than medicinal.
Shop this drink
The bottle, the glass, and the kit — everything on this card.
We may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
Newsletter
The Bitter Brief
One short Friday dispatch: a bottle worth buying, a cocktail worth mixing, and a little Italian history.
Mix another
Aereo Elefante
¾ oz See the Elephant · ¾ oz Bourbon · ¾ oz Giffard Pamplemousse · ¾ oz Lemon · Basil
Elephant Flip
2 oz See the Elephant · 1 oz Cacao-infused Grappa · ¾ oz Bénédictine · 1 bsp Cocchi Dopo Teatro · Whole Egg
Paper Plane
¾ oz Bourbon · ¾ oz Amaro Nonino · ¾ oz Aperol · ¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice