Name: The Curveball
Yield: 1 cocktail
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 1 ½ oz. Basil Hayden bourbon; ½ oz. spicy Coca-Cola syrup (recipe follows); ¼ oz. honey syrup (1:1 ratio warm water and honey, stirred or shaken until dissolved); 2–3 dashes orange bitters; Garnish: peanuts of choice (the Club uses pickled boiled peanuts) and lemon slice; 2 cups (approx. 16 oz.) Mexican Coca-Cola; 2 cinnamon sticks; 1 tsp. black peppercorns; 1 pod star anise (optional)

If you’ve ever stopped by the Garden & Gun Club at the Battery Atlanta, you know it’s part of the same buzzing entertainment district as Truist Park, the home of the Braves. With another season of baseball officially underway, those confines are livelier than ever.

As a toast to its National League neighbors, the G&G Club is mixing up a special cocktail called the Curveball, featuring a hometown beverage you might have heard of—Coca-Cola—simmered down to syrup along with a few spices. (Note: Mexican Coke is best here, as cane sugar will result in a cleaner, more syrupy reduction.) Balancing that spicy-sweet foundation is Basil Hayden, a robust, high-proof bourbon, along with a splash of citrus. And topping it all off is a classic ballpark snack—peanuts. The Club uses house-pickled boiled peanuts, a flavor you can approximate by stirring a little vinegar powder into your boiled peanuts. But any style will do.

Shake, strain, and play ball.

Preparation

Make the Coca-Cola syrup: Pour the Coca-Cola into a small saucepan and add the cinnamon sticks, peppercorns, and star anise. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat, then reduce to low. Let it simmer uncovered for 20–30 minutes. Continue simmering until the liquid has reduced by about two-thirds (you should have roughly ½ to ¾ cup of syrup left). It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Remove from heat and strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the solids. Let it cool completely before using. Keep any leftover syrup in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Mix the drink: Add the bourbon, Coca-Cola syrup, honey syrup, and orange bitters into a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain into a rocks glass with a large rock. Garnish with peanuts and lemon slice.