The Beauty Beneath sounds like it should arrive by candlelight carrying a secret. Gold rum, sweet vermouth, Campari, triple sec, and Angostura bitters make for a cocktail full of bitter orange, warm spice, and just enough sweetness to keep everything on friendly terms.
Campari has a habit of taking over a drink if given the chance. Here, it behaves. The larger measure of gold rum keeps it in check, giving the cocktail a warm, mellow center while sweet vermouth fills in the darker edges with herbs and rich fruit. The bitterness is still present, but it has been folded into the drink rather than left sitting on top of it.
Orange runs through the whole cocktail in different forms. Campari brings the bitter side, triple sec supplies a brighter and sweeter note, and the orange twist makes itself known before the glass even reaches your lips. A dash of Angostura adds a sharp accent spice behind it all.
Serve The Beauty Beneath well chilled in a coupe. It is an excellent cocktail-hour drink when you want something strong but not severe, bitter but not punishing. It feels dressed up without requiring you to be.
Check out the full recipe here:
The Beauty Beneath
Gold Rum, Sweet Vermouth, Campari