Mooch was a tuxedo cat Ms. Cocktail Den and I had for many years. Shortly after he died I spent an afternoon experimenting with various spirits to create a cocktail, my first original creation, in his honor.

1.5 ounces vodka
.5 ounces Benedictine DOM
.5 ounces Fernet Branca
2 dashes Angostura bitters

Combine in a mixing glass with ice, stir with the intensity of Mooch eating almost anything, and strain into a chilled glass.

Given Mooch's colors, initially I looked at the Tuxedo cocktails for inspiration. However, Mooch was unique so I decided to go in a different direction. Vodka provides a good cocktail canvas for this liquid art. The combination of Benedictine DOM and Fernet Branca seems odd, but they complement each other surprisingly well. Like its namesake, the Mooch has a fairly sharp bite at first, then  some sweetness, and always leaves you hungry for more.