Unsure of how guests would react to the anise-forward profile of the Israeli arak Kafroun, Alex Anderson disguised it in the cotton-candy pink of a Paloma. Though there’s only a quarter-ounce of Kafroun in the drink, Anderson draws out some of its subtler citrus essence by expressing lemon oil directly into the cocktail tin for a layered end result. She adds this to the expected tequila and grapefruit (in this case grapefruit soda) alongside the wild-card additions of Campari and orgeat. Though she admits she wasn’t sure people would order it given its bold profile, the drink ended up being one of Cure’s best-sellers.
Feeling Without Touching
Alex Anderson, Cure | New Orleans
Ingredients
Serving: 1
- 1 ounce blanco tequila, preferably Tequila Ocho Plata
- 1/2 ounce Campari
- 1/4 ounce arak, preferably Kafroun
- 3/4 ounce lime juice
- 1/2 ounce orgeat
- 1 ounce grapefruit soda, preferably Q
Garnish: lemon peel
Directions
- Express two lemon peels in a mixing tin and discard.
- Combine all ingredients in mixing tin and shake without ice.
- Pour into a Collins glass over pebble ice.
- Garnish with lemon twist.