Cheers BevX 2022 | Page 7

IS THE BEVERAGE MANAGER AT IRIS , A JAPANESE- INSPIRED COCKTAIL BAR IN SAN FRANCISCO .

During the warm summer months in San Francisco , I enjoy one of Iris ’ s creations periodically , strictly for quality control . The Small Talk is a Swedish aquavit-based cocktail with feijoa eau de vie ( feijoa is a Brazilian evergreen shrub ), organic strawberry shrub , unsweetened hazelnut milk , citrus and moscato .

The inspiration for the cocktail comes from one of the Japanese staple soft drinks , strawberry flavored calpico . We use local ingredients and unique worldly components to recreate flavors and incorporate spirits in a playful and thoughtful way with quality and freshness always in mind . The Small Talk is a tart and refreshing cocktail with a sweetness derived almost purely from moscato wine . This is my pick for the summer months , and what I drink when an opportunity arises .

SMALL TALK

1 ½ oz . Svol Swedish aquavit ¼ oz . Feijoa eau de vie ¾ oz . Strawberry vinegar ½ oz . Elmhurst hazelnut milk ¾ oz . Freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 oz . Top with Moscato d ’ Asti

Combine ingredients , except moscato , in a shaker tin . Add ice and shake for 10 seconds . Double strain into a Collins glass with spear ice and top with moscato . Garnish with lime leaf ( slap first to release its fragrance ) attached to the glass with a clothespin .

In celebration of National Ice Cream Month in July and beyond , Phoenix-based cocktail bar Platform 18 has unveiled a boozy twist on the classic sweet treat with elevated infusions . The adult-only ice cream and sorbet creations include :

Bootlegger ( shown right ) - vanilla bean ice cream infused with Westland sherry cask American single malt whiskey , Lustau Penisula Palo Cortado sherry , finished with a toasted hazelnut and 18-year-old balsamic vinegar . Civility is Champion - a passion fruit sorbet infused with Mount Gay XO aged Barbados rum , Peychaud ’ s Aperitivo , lime , grapefruit and finished with a 20-year-old sherry vinegar , served with a small pour of Perrier-Jouët Champagne . Steel Tycoon - strawberry sorbet infused with Sipsmith VJOP gin , Hine H Cognac , Strega , pineapple , lime and finished with a reduction of Yellow Chartreuse . And Winchester Riffle- coconut milk ice cream infused with EH Taylor Small Batch Bourbon , toasted coconut , dark chocolate , basil and finished with a reduction of Hericques & Hericques 10 yr Sercial Madeira .

The spiked sorbet and ice cream , priced at $ 8 , will be available at Platform 18 year round . Platform 18 , located a replica Pullman train car inside of Century Grand , which also houses the Grey Hen Rx and UnderTow bars , is part of brand incubator and beverage consulting company Barter & Shake Cocktail Entertainment .

www . cheersonline . com BevX Issue 2022 • 7