Last Word

Last Word

½ oz gin
½ oz green Chartreuse
½ oz Maraschino
½ oz lime juice

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

FIFTEEN — “So Lloyd and Jake revealed themselves to the world. It was quite a surprise, but they explained that they’d just wanted to take a break from everything for a little while. They’re here to stay now, so obviously everyone’s plans for bringing them back from extinction are unnecessary. Oh, well. Let’s all have a drink, guys.”

Sidecar

Sidecar

1½ oz brandy
1 oz triple sec
½ oz lemon juice

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

FOURTEEN — Lloyd rose from his seat. “Let’s get this over with.”

Bijou

Bijou

1 oz gin
1 oz green Chartreuse
1 oz sweet vermouth

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

THIRTEEN — “Sometimes, Jake, I wonder what it will be like after all this is behind us. I think I’ll build a little house by the ocean. Something modest, you know. And maybe I’ll get a dog and finally learn to play that guitar my uncle handed down.”

Little Witch

Little Witch

2 oz silver tequila
½ oz Strega
½ oz lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup
2 oregano sprigs

Muddle the oregano in the simple syrup, then shake all ingredients with ice and double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

TWELVE — Maria launched into another of her tirades and Umberto struggled with the urge to cover his ears. “And another thing,” she began, as her voice crescendoed to a shriek, “what if I were to tell all of you right now that the dodo is alive and well! It’s not extinct, and never was! That’s right! Stop looking at me that way,” she went on as they all stared in disbelief. “I have one in my apartment as we speak. He’s been living there for months now.” At this news Umberto started, and his response did not go unnoticed. “It’s not like that,” Maria said, lowering her voice.

Pegu Club Cocktail

Pegu Club Cocktail

2 oz gin
¾ oz orange liqueur
½ oz lime juice
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 dash orange bitters

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

ELEVEN — Verne stood to face them behind the bar.
“Ok,” he said, “just so that we all know where we stand.”
“I never took you for a traitor, Verne,” Umberto said, edging forward, away from the two menaces behind them.
“Just hand over the lady’s papers, or hand over the lady. It’s your choice. Either way you’re not leaving here with a manual on how to reincarnate extinct birds.”
“Oh, get over it.” Maria spoke in slow, deliberate syllables. “I’ve had about all I can take of your right-wing proselytizing.”

Brave Bull

Brave Bull

2 oz silver tequila
1 oz coffe liqueur

Build over ice in a rocks glass.

TEN — They were stopped in their tracks by the vultures who had been trailing Maria to the bar. “Leaving so soon?”
As the two thugs closed in Umberto took hold of Maria’s arm. “Let me do the talking,” he whispered to her.

Margarita

Margarita

1½ oz silver tequila
1 oz triple sec
½ oz lime juice

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

NINE — Umberto cut to the chase. “Did you manage to retrieve the information?” “It’s good to see you, too.” Maria ruffled her feathers and shifted in her seat. She lowered her voice. “Yes, I've got it, just like I promised.” “There was a time I recall when you didn’t keep your promises so well.” Maria opened her beak to respond to this unwarranted dig, but kept her eyes glued to the bartender on the phone. Verne had picked up the receiver and dialed as soon as she entered the bar, and his occasional furtive glances at the two of them had not gone unnoticed. She grabbed Umberto’s arm. “We have to get out of here now,” she hissed under her breath. “It’s not safe!” She flew off her bar stool, Umberto trailing unsteadily behind.

Bourbon Crusta

Bourbon Crusta

1½ oz bourbon
½ oz triple sec
½ oz lemon juice
¼ oz Maraschino

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

EIGHT — Maria was just as surprised to have escaped the vultures as Umberto was to finally see her. They took a second to compose themselves. (She to catch her breath and he to shake off the cocktails.)

Manhattan

Manhattan

2 oz rye whiskey
1 oz sweet vermouth
2 dashes bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

SEVEN — “Verne, make me another Red Hook. I’ll give her ten more minutes to show up; then I’m out of here.”

French Connection

French Connection

1 oz brandy
1 oz Grand Marnier

Serve in a snifter or rocks glass neat (i.e., without ice, sans glaçons, ohne Eis, senza ghiaccio…)

SIX — Always one step ahead of her pursuers, Maria Giovanna had managed to exhaust them in a fruitless chase that wove its harried course from the Sycamore Building through the dank alleyways of the city. Now she remained as still as possible, and could here one turkey vulture exhale with audible difficulty as the other scuffed his feet on the cement. “Papers or not, I’ve had about all I can take of that bird, Giacomo. When we find her I’m going to feed her to the worms.” Maria automatically pressed the letter under her wing more tightly; she was not about to give up that which she fought so hard to procure.

Stinger

Stinger

2¼ oz brandy
¾ oz white crème de menthe

Shake with ice and strain into a glass filled with crushed ice.

FIVE — Tending to a stork who had ambled in and ordered a Stinger, Verne left Umberto alone with his anxiety. It was just as well; his debating skills tended to provoke nothing but yawns anyway. “Where’s Maria?” he asked himself. “It’s not like her to be late.” His nervous talons set to work shredding another napkin.

Old Pal

Old Pal

1½ oz rye whiskey
½ oz Campari
½ oz dry vermouth

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

FOUR — “Dead birds,” huffed Verne. “So what?” The feathers on the back of Umberto’s neck stood on end as he shot back with unexpected passion: “The dodo and the moa are our cousins; bringing them back from extinction isn’t just a hobby for bored scientists — it’s a familial obligation!”

Negroni

Negroni

1 oz gin
1 oz Campari
1 oz sweet vermouth

Build over ice in a rocks glass.

THREE — “Not at all,” replied Umberto. “I await a business associate to discuss a venture whose outcome is far from certain. Look at this…” He placed a diagram on the bar top.

Aviation

Aviation

2 oz gin
½ oz Maraschino
½ oz lemon juice
1 tsp crème de violette

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

TWO — “Let me guess,” said Verne, wiping dry a glass that had only recently held as its contents a delicious black stout as he eyed Umberto with a mixture of pity and good cheer, “Lady trouble?”

Red Hook

Red Hook

2 oz rye whiskey
½ oz Punt e Mes
½ oz Maraschino

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

ONE — Umberto deliberated at the bar, wanting to delay, to drag it out, to avoid the inevitable exchange that would take place upon her arrival. In an effort to appear aloof he ordered a Red Hook, and while he watched the bartender stir his drink he quietly shredded a cocktail napkin between his talons.