“Cognac always reminds me a bit of malt and honey, and figs have a complementary, slightly nutty profile,” writes Maggie Hoffman in her new book, The One Bottle Cocktail. ” David Perez of Nancy in Miami puts them together in this smooth operator, which is shaken with mint leaves so each sip finishes bright and clean. If you don’t have julep cups, no sweat; rocks glasses work fine, too, as long as they are piled high with crushed ice. While bourbon is a little too sweet here, this drink is quite tasty with rye or Scotch instead of the brandy.”