Phantom

The Phantom is a white drink with a quiet disposition and a name that suggests neither. Licor 43 and vodka over ice, topped with milk, and the result looks like a glass of milk and drinks like dessert.

Licor 43 is the reason it works. A Spanish liqueur named for the forty-three ingredients it supposedly contains, it is dominated by vanilla with citrus and warm baking spice underneath, and it turns milk into something closer to melted ice cream than to a glass of milk. The vodka adds strength without flavor, which is the point: it keeps the drink from being a milkshake while contributing nothing that would interfere with the vanilla. This is a nightcap in the plainest sense, and it goes down easily enough that the ounce of vodka is worth remembering.

Glass: Highball glass | Strength: Medium | Serves: 1 | Prep Time: 3 minutes

Bartender’s tip: Whole milk gives the best texture by a clear margin, since the fat is what carries the vanilla. Pour the milk in slowly over the back of a spoon if you want the layered look before you stir, and add it last. Milk poured onto ice and then hit with spirit can separate slightly if the drink sits, so mix it and drink it rather than building it early.