Plucked from the pages of the excellent book Three Ingredient Cocktails by Robert Simonson, La Perla is a nocturnal tequila drink that is short on recipe, but certainly not on flavor, as it boasts a dynamic range of deliciousness sure to please adventurous cocktail drinkers and sherry lovers alike. It presents an excellent opportunity for evening experimentation, and comes in handy anytime a little surprise is in order. The nose is predominantly lemon, sherry, and tequila, while the pear mostly comes through on the sip. This drink is floral and refreshing with a hint of honey sweetness that plays beautifully into the soft, yellow and flowerlike aesthetic.

A lemon twist is very important to this drink; it has no bitters and the citrus oils add sparkle and complexity. Manzanilla sherry is recommended here, but even with a nice bottle, we didn’t find the pairing to be just-so-perfect or anything. The result is a little dry with manzanilla, so consider something a little sweeter, unless of course dry has your eye. Similarly, we didn’t sense a lot of strength from the requested reposado tequila, so feel free to play around. The reposado did add a bit of backbone, so reach for it if you have no opinions otherwise. Overall, this is a unique and weird drink with few comparisons. In fact, it feels a little magical how everything works together. Give this one a roll when hunting for something outside the box or trying to impress your more discerning friends.