Eeyore's Requiem Riff

Eeyore's Requiem is one of the most uncompromising modern bitter cocktails — created by bartender Toby Maloney at The Violet Hour in Chicago. The original combines a hefty pour of Campari with blanc vermouth, gin, Cynar, Fernet-Branca, orange bitters, and an unusually generous expression of orange oil. Our version keeps the drink's Campari-forward identity while reworking several of the supporting players. Lillet Blanc steps in for the original blanc vermouth, lending a softer wine base and brighter citrus character. No. 3 London Dry Gin supplies juniper and botanical backbone, while Cynar 70 offers a more concentrated take on Cynar's bittersweet, herbal profile. Fernet-Branca contributes its signature minty, root-driven bitterness, and orange bitters tie the various amari and aperitif elements together. Expressing oils from three orange twists isn't just for show — that concentrated citrus aroma is essential to counterbalancing the drink's bitterness.

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Campari

• 0.5 oz No. 3 London Dry Gin

• 0.25 oz Cynar 70

• 0.25 oz Fernet-Branca

• 1 oz Lillet Blanc (original recipe calls for Dolin Blanc)

• 15 drops orange bitters

• Oils expressed from at least 3 orange twists

• Orange twist, for garnish

Steps

1. Add all ingredients, except the orange oils, to a mixing glass.

2. Fill with ice and stir until well-chilled.

3. Strain into a martini glass.

4. Express the oils from three orange twists over the drink, then discard the twists.

5. Garnish with a fresh orange twist and enjoy.

Paired With

68% Ghanaian Dark Chocolate with Candied Citrus by MAP Chocolate

This 68% Ghanaian dark chocolate is studded with candied Cara Cara orange, blood orange, ruby grapefruit, sweet lime, and tangelo. The varied citrus mirrors the drink's expressed orange oils, while its sweetness offsets the layered bitterness of Campari, Cynar, and Fernet-Branca.