Recipe

• 5 parts brandy

• 2 parts triple sec

• 2 parts lemon juice

Shake together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon zest.

This is like a margarita wearing a suit and tie. The crazy tequila and lime have been replaced by conservative cognac and lemon, and it all ends up tasting very grown-up. I'd almost go so far as to call it boring, but the undisguised boozy hit of alcohol is actually quite pleasant, and I feel like the cocktail is doing what it's trying to do.

Possibly a better brandy would've been good – I just got the cheap cognac from Aldi. I'd also like to try this again with more triple sec and less cognac, since that's what the guideline on the side of my cocktail shaker says.