The wind howled outside as a cold winter’s night settled over the neighborhood. Snow piled high against the windowsills, and the world beyond the glass seemed to vanish into a blanket of white. Inside, the warmth of the crackling fire painted the room in soft amber hues. Samuel stood in the kitchen, meticulously arranging a few select bottles on the counter, while his friend Victor shrugged off his heavy coat and hung it near the door.

"You weren’t joking about the storm," Victor said, rubbing his hands together for warmth.

"I did warn you," Samuel replied with a smirk, grabbing a bottle of London dry gin. "But I’m glad you made it. This kind of evening calls for something special, and I’ve got just the thing."

Victor raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Special, huh? What are you concocting tonight?"

"An Angel Face," Samuel said, his voice carrying a touch of theatricality. "It’s simple but elegant—just gin, Calvados, and apricot brandy. Perfect for warming up after braving the cold."

Victor leaned against the counter, watching as Samuel worked. "Never had one of those. What’s it like?"

"Smooth and balanced," Samuel explained, pouring equal parts of the gin, Calvados, and apricot brandy into a mixing glass. "The gin adds a crisp, herbal edge, the Calvados brings a hint of orchard sweetness, and the apricot brandy rounds it out with a velvety fruitiness. It’s a little bit of summer in the middle of winter."

"Sounds like exactly what I need," Victor said, his grin widening.

Samuel chuckled, reaching for a handful of ice and dropping it into the mixing glass. He picked up a long bar spoon, stirring the mixture with practiced ease. The sound of ice clinking against glass was almost musical, blending seamlessly with the faint crackle of the fire in the other room.

"The Angel Face is one of those cocktails that doesn’t get the attention it deserves," Samuel said, his tone conversational as he stirred. "It’s got this timeless quality—simple ingredients that come together to create something greater than the sum of their parts."

"You always manage to turn mixing drinks into philosophy," Victor teased.

"Hey, it’s an art form," Samuel shot back with a grin. He strained the pale golden liquid into a chilled cocktail glass, its smooth surface gleaming in the soft light. Reaching for a slice of orange, he gave it a quick twist over the glass to release its fragrant oils, letting the garnish fall lightly onto the drink’s surface.

"And there you have it," Samuel said, handing the glass to Victor with a flourish. "One Angel Face, crafted with care."

Victor took the glass, swirling it gently before taking a sip. His expression shifted from curiosity to delight. "That’s incredible," he said, his voice tinged with surprise. "It’s so smooth, and the flavors just... blend perfectly. You can taste everything, but nothing overpowers the rest."

"That’s the beauty of it," Samuel said, pouring a second drink for himself. "It’s all about harmony. On a night like this, it’s like finding a little piece of heaven."

The two friends carried their cocktails to the living room, settling into armchairs near the fire. The snowstorm raged outside, but the warmth of the evening, the crackling flames, and the perfection of the Angel Face made the winter feel distant and unthreatening.

"To good drinks and good friends," Victor said, raising his glass in a toast.

"Cheers to that," Samuel replied, clinking his glass against Victor’s.

They sipped their cocktails, the rich, balanced flavors lingering on their palates as they talked and laughed late into the night. Outside, the snow continued to fall, but inside, all was warm, bright, and full of cheer.