This is a cocktail, not a meal, and the ingredient list reveals the real cost driver: amontillado sherry and apricot liqueur are specialty spirits that require a trip to a dedicated liquor store rather than a standard grocery run in Charlotte. The five-minute stated time is honest for mixing, but you're looking at stocking four separate bottles—brandy, sherry, apricot liqueur, and peychaud's bitters—which is a significant upfront investment that doesn't suit casual weeknight entertaining. The recipe works perfectly for what it is: a two-person aperitif that mixes smoothly and doesn't keep. Budget $40–60 for the bottles if you don't already have them, and factor in a liquor store stop as a real second errand.