Anzu

For those of you who have been asking, anzu means apricot in Japanese. I love apricots, apricot blossoms (which are pink or white) and I love Japan so that's why I picked anzu. Apricots also appear in Midsummer Night's dream as an aphrodisiac, so what more could you want? I started my business after an inspirational trip to Japan (it made me want to pick up the paint brush again) so I knew I'd like to have a Japanese name for my company. Japan really is a mecca to illustrators; there is quirky illustration everywhere, it is fantastic to see Geisha walking by you in their exquisite hand-painted silks, and I love that attention to quality and beauty there is second to none, whether it is kaiseki cuisine or ikebana flower arrangements.

There also happens to be a cocktail called anzu! It is made with

1 1/2 oz gin

1 oz apricot brandy

1 oz Cointreau orange liqueur

1 tsp lemon juice

Shake with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and serve. Enjoy!