The Smokie & Alice has been on the cocktail list at Georgia James since it opened in 2018 and exemplifies the creative spirit behind the bar. Named for an obscure song—“Living Next Door to Alice,” by the ’70s English rock band Smokie—the drink tastes like a kicked-up Penicillin made with Japanese whisky, peated Scotch and a housemade black tea syrup.
Smokie & Alice
Westin Galleymore | Houston

Ingredients
Serving: 1
- 1 1/2 ounces Japanese whisky, preferably Toki
- 1/2 ounce High Wire Southern Amaro (or Amaro Nonino or Amaro Meletti)
- 1/2 ounce lemon juice
- 1/2 ounce black tea syrup (see Editor's Note)
- 1/4 ounce Scotch, preferably Compass Box Glasgow Blend
Garnish: dehydrated lemon wheel, cinnamon stick
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass.
- Garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel and a cinnamon stick.
Editor's Note
Black Tea Syrup
10 grams (or 10 tea bags) black tea
4 cups sugar
2 cups water
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and let steep for 30 minutes before straining out the tea or removing the tea bags.