Missing Link

* 1 1/2 ounces rum
* 1 ounce Cointreau
* 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake until cold. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

This recipe follows the pattern of what Gary Regan calls “New Orleans sours” — a base spirit, an orange-flavored liqueur, and a souring agent such as lemon or lime juice. Notable drinks in this category include the Margarita and the Sidecar, among others. There’s a variant of this family for nearly every base spirit except rum, so Mr. Regan created this one (hence “Missing Link”).

It’s a good one. Many of my favorite drinks fall into this category, and the Sidecar is at the top of my list, so I’m always on the lookout for more interesting recipes along these lines. The rum in this cocktails gives it a richer flavor and is a nice change. Experiment with different rums here and you can get a wide variety of flavors.