This drink began as a study in suggestion—how to evoke a flavor without using it outright. Here, the idea of strawberry comes not from fruit or syrup, but from the bright, floral depth of Cocchi Rosa Vermouth, which layers beautifully with bourbon’s warmth, Campari’s bite, and the rich, earthen sweetness of clairin and cacao. The result recalls chocolate-dipped strawberries and soft banana, all filtered through the bittersweet lens of a classic Boulevardier. The garnish—a simple half strawberry—ties perception to reality, completing the illusion.