A.A. Badenhorst, “Caperitif” No. 10

Because of the numberless thrills in the evolving world of wine, one of our few hard-and-fast rules is to rid yourself of any reservations. Last year’s equally mysterious and unique “Caperitif” was the ultimate litmus test, and your response was tremendous. It seems everyone wanted to taste this chameleonic sipper/mixer/anyway-you-like it aperitif, so when we learned they recently released a new batch (“No. 9”) we couldn’t help ourselves. This one comes in with more spice and power, but retains that addictively refreshing citrus and quinine bite that makes it such a fascinatingly versatile libation. If you bought the previous batch, count this as a major upgrade, and if it’s your first go-around, consider this your lucky day. Read on to discover its wild allure...In the early 1900s, “Capertif” was the essential addition for many signature cocktails, but when Prohibition reared its ugly head, it was all but wiped off the face of the earth. Since nobody knew how to recreate it, “Capertif