Lyric Libations: ERNANI

Ernani was Verdi's first major hit, and it's easy to see why. With soaring arias for each of the four leads and thundering choral numbers, this early Verdi opera overflows with political and romantic intrigue. Mix up a cocktail fit for a king and feel yourself instantly transported to the 16th-century Spanish court. Much like a strong drink, the twists and turns of this opera are enough to make you dizzy.

A traditional dark n' stormy is the perfect drink for a man on the run. With three simple ingredients, you can whip up this refreshing cocktail and melt back into the night before anyone even knew you were there. This cocktail is also easy to scale up; so make a pitcher for all of your bandit besties to enjoy before asking them to risk life and limb to save your lover.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces dark rum
• 1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
• Ginger beer, to top (about 5 ounces)
• Garnish: lime wheel

Instructions

Add rum and lime juice to a tall glass filled with ice. Top with the ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wheel.

^{Recipe courtesy of liquor.com.}

When you're the King of Spain and newly elected Holy Roman Emperor, it's only expected that you demand a labor-intensive cocktail full of international ingredients. This bittersweet and spicy drink is the perfect balm to help soothe Carlo's ego after yet another rejection from Elvira (not to mention a few failed assassination attempts).

Ingredients

• 1 ounce El Dorado 12-year-old rum
• 1 ounce Lustau Brandy de Jerez
• 1/4 ounce The Famous Grouse Smoky Black blended scotch
• 1/4 ounce Lustau PX sherry
• 1/4 ounce Bigallet China-China amer
• 1 dash Bittercube Jamaican No. 1 bitters
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• 3 drops The Bitter End curry bitters
• Garnish: orange peel

Instructions
Add the rum, Brandy de Jerez, blended scotch, PX sherry, China-China amer and all three bitters into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a Nick & Nora glass. Express the oils from an orange peel over the top of the drink, and garnish with the peel.

^{Recipe by bartender Jessica Lambert of Vol. 39 at Chicago's own Kimpton Grey Hotel via liquor.com.}

With three men competing for her love, you'd think Elvira was a lucky lady. Her heart, however, only beats for Ernani. Whether you're looking to stoke the flames of romance or burn away the bad taste of a misguided suitor, this warming whisky drink is just the thing.

Ingredients

• 1/2 teaspoon Benedictine
• 1 dash Peychaud's Bitters
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters
• 3/4 ounce rye whiskey
• 3/4 ounce cognac
• 3/4 ounce sweet vermouth

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and fill with ice; stir well for 20 seconds and strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a cherry.

^{Recipe courtesty of seriouseats.com.}

Straightforward, yet nuanced, this drink goes down easy but will come back to bite you if you're not careful. Silver tequila is necessary for this Silva fox.

Ingredients

• 1¾ ounces silver tequila
• 3/4 ounce Cointreau
• 3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 egg white
• Garnish: orange twist

Instructions

Add the tequila, Cointreau, lemon juice and egg white to a shaker and dry shake (without ice) for at least 15 seconds. Fill shaker with ice and shake again until well-chilled. Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass. Twist a swath of orange peel over the drink and discard.

^{Recipe courtesy of liquor.com.}