A cocktail that looks familiar enough to avoid attention, but hides a second layer beneath the surface. It starts in Old Fashioned territory, then quietly pivots.

Ingredients

• 2 oz high-rye bourbon (or a bold rye whiskey)
• ¼ oz Amaro Nonino
• ¼ oz black walnut liqueur
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 dash orange bitters
• 1 small bar spoon maple syrup
• 1 tiny pinch of flaky sea salt

Garnish

• Expressed orange peel
• Brandied cherry
• Optional: lightly singe a sprig of rosemary for aroma

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir for about 25 seconds until well chilled.
3. Strain over a large clear ice cube in a heavy rocks glass.
4. Express the orange peel over the drink and rub it around the rim.
5. Add the cherry and, if using, briefly torch the rosemary before placing it beside the glass.

Tasting Notes

The first sip introduces classic bourbon, orange, and bitters. Then the black walnut arrives with earthy depth, while the amaro slips in quietly with herbal complexity. The maple and sea salt don't announce themselves, but they round every edge, making the finish long, dry, and intriguingly layered.

Why it's called The Case Officer

Like its namesake, it doesn't advertise what it is. At first glance it appears to be an Old Fashioned. Spend a little time with it, though, and subtle layers begin to reveal themselves: restrained, deliberate, and impossible to fully understand in a single meeting.

Glass: Double rocks
Ice: One large clear cube
Strength: Spirit-forward
Best pairing: Charcuterie, smoked nuts, dark chocolate, or a quiet conversation that never quite gets to the point.