Ode to Dale
Neighborhood Restaurant Group Spirits Manager Nick Farrell’s summer elixir is an homage to legendary American barman Dale DeGroff’s Whiskey Smash. At Vermilion, Farrell shakes bourbon and Laphroaig single-malt Scotch whisky (which has black pepper and cardamom notes in addition to peatiness) with strawberries, lemon wedges, mint leaves, saba and lemon. “Scotch has a lot going on... but all those flavors also have affinities,” he says. “Islay single malts like Laphroaig can stand up to stronger flavors.” 1120 King St., Alexandria, 703.684.9669, vermilionrestaurant.com
Spill the Tea
The Next Whisky Bar’s chief mixtress, Rachel Sergi, says the three types of casks used to finish Auchentoshan single-malt Scotch whisky—bourbon, oloroso sherry and Pedro Ximenez sherry—add complexity to this seasonal cocktail. She builds the drink in the glass over ice with Lillet Blanc, burnt orange cordial, lemon verbena tea, and expressed lemon and orange oils, adorned with a long orange horse_neck garnish. Her inspiration? “A summer sweet tea with depth.” The Watergate Hotel, 2650 Virginia Ave. NW, 202.827.1600, thewatergatehotel.com
Photography by: clockwise from top left, photos: by stacey windsor; courtesy of the next whisky bar; by rey lopez
