Mandarine Napoleon

Delicious Corsican drink to honor Napoleon, who was born on Corsica. Mandarine Napoleon liqueur was created to honor Napoleon while he was alive (by a social-climbing chemist), considered a French liqueur, but it is actually produced in Belgium. It is an (38% alcohol) orange-flavored liquor with a cognac base, with a spicy orange bouquet and pale orange color. It is made with Mandarin peel from Sicily chopped fine and steeped in cognac, then filtered, then added to alcohol, sugar, 21 herbs and spices (supposedly include clove, coriander, cumin and green tea). The alcohol is distilled 3 times and aged 3 years before bottling. If you can't find Mandarine Napoleon, I would substitute Grand Marnier for the best taste, then Cointreau, or, if desperate, triple sec. But if you want to honor the great little man, buy the real stuff. Hmm, the Mandarine Napoleon has a unique taste, sweet without being cloying, but not too "sophisticated". I heartily recommend this cocktail, and spring for the real deal, you'll be glad you did.

• Ready In: 5 mins
• Serves: 1
• Yields: 1 highball

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 ounces  mandarin liqueur (see recipe description) or 1 1⁄2 ounces  orange liqueur (see recipe description) or 1 1⁄2 ounces Grand Marnier (see recipe description) or 1 1⁄2 ounces Cointreau liqueur (see recipe description) or 1 1⁄2 ounces triple sec (see recipe description)
• 1⁄2 ounce fresh lime juice
• 5  ounces  7-up, soda
•  crushed  ice, to fill highball glass 3/4 full
• 1  lime slice, for garnish

Directions

1. Pour into a highball glass three-quarters filled with broken ice. Garnish with a slice of lime. Serve with a straw.