I make a lot of new friends when I travel. Especially at the hotel bar I’m staying at. Most recently, I spent some time in Puerto Rico at the La Concha Resort. Their lobby bar was a haven for me and my laptop. I tend to work better when there are people around, so it was the perfect place to chat with the locals, while thinking up my next sentence.
Juan Antonio Noriega, La Concha’s lobby bar mixologist, was one of the new friends I speak of. He was eager to share with me the “Kontraste,” a cocktail he created to compete at this year’s The Perfect Serve, which took home second place.
The perfect Caribbean cocktail recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
- 1 oz. Albariño
- 1/2 oz. Coconut Cream
- 1/2 oz. Basil Simple Syrup
- Garnish: orange peel and basil leaves
Directions:
Combine ingredients (sans garnish) into a shaker cup. Shake and pour into a rocks glass. Garnish with orange peel and 1-2 basil leaves. Enjoy!
When it comes to Caribbean style cocktails, or warm weather friendly cocktails, everyone has different opinions. In the end, it simply comes down to your taste. Are you a margarita drinker? That’s cool, so am I. Still, I urge you to try Juan’s recipe, whether it be at the La Concha Resort lobby bar the next time you’re in San Juan, Puerto Rico or in your own home. You won’t regret it.
