An Asheville specialty with global inspiration, this cool cocktail still brings the heat. For the base spirit, Benne on Eagle’s Anthony Auger is partial to gin from local South Slope distillery Chemist, balanced with the mild spice of a homemade Thai chile and lemongrass syrup.
Drinks
Chili + Lemongrass
A hint of spice underpins this refreshing gin concoction from Asheville’s Benne on Eagle
Photo: Johnny Autry
Ingredients
For the Cocktail
1½ oz. Chemist gin
¾ oz. fresh lime juice
¾ oz. Chili and Lemongrass Syrup (recipe follows)
For the Chili and Lemongrass Syrup
16 oz. sugar
16 oz. water
2 stalks lemongrass, chopped
2 Thai chiles
Preparation
Simmer ingredients for syrup together for 15 minutes. Strain and let cool. Combine with gin and lime juice. Remaining syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for future use.
Recipe from Anthony Auger of Benne on Eagle in Asheville, North Carolina
Related Stories:
Recipe
One Atlanta chef revisits her Dutch grandma’s recipe for the fall treat
What's in Season
Charleston chef Jason Stanhope gives the humble stalk its due
Recipe
The country legend’s new cookbook offers a classic recipe, plus some smart tips
Trending Stories:
Arts & Culture
For almost fifty years, they carried the bags of golf legends but also masterminded victories from the tees to the holes. Then, with one decision, their lives shifted, and the legacy of their glory days went unheralded. Finally, that’s changing
Food & Drink
Step aside New York and Chicago: Biloxi, Mississippi, has a secret pizza ingredient that’s ready for the spotlight
Arts & Culture
Decades later, those dainty florals still hold a powerful grip on the South