El Alquimista: Empress gin, rose water, bergamot, cava brut and hibiscus flower
Infusing Botanics into a Cocktail Stunner
Suspiro | San Jose, Calif.
Brian Chavez
El Alquimista is a cocktail that not only stands out on the bar menu at Suspiro—it stands up. Served in an eye-catching, footed, red-tinted glass handcrafted in Spain, the drink is a showstopper, says Brian Chavez, bar manager of this Spanish-Peruvian concept. “Some guests see the glass on the back bar and just say, ‘Make me the drink that comes in that,’” says Chavez. “And the flavor doesn’t disappoint once they try it!”
El Alquimista is both botanical and floral thanks to a combination of gin, rose water, bergamot and hibiscus flower. Cava softens the profile, bringing the flavors into balance. “Gin and cava are an unusual combination, but the sweetness of the cava against the floral and herbaceous elements in the rest of the drink works nicely,” he says. This homage to Spain pairs well with the restaurant’s tapas menu and is one of its most popular cocktails.
About the Author
Katie Ayoub serves as managing editor of Flavor & The Menu and content strategist for the Flavor Experience, an annual conference geared toward chain operators. She is president of Katie Ayoub & Associates, serving up menu trends expertise, content creation and food & beverage consultancy. Based in Chicago, Katie has been working in foodservice publishing for more than 20 years and part of the Flavor team since 2006. katie.ayoub@gmail.comRead More Stories by Katie Ayoub
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