Florida InsideOut 147

DRINKS CART

he Austrian bar chef Albert Trummerarrived in Miami two years ago to createdrinks for the MTV Music Awards and

never left. Now he’s at David Bouley Evolution, thenew restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach,combining exotic ingredients like kumquatliqueur, homemade bitters and vanilla beans.

Trummer, who won acclaim as a bar chef inNew York, is part of a serious group of puristbartenders. He claims to be the first to use elder-flower in a cocktail. He calls his elderflower con-coction “an offshoot of the peach-infused belli-nis of the day.” It became the signature drink hecreated for Danube in New York.

The elderflower? Why, that’s what turns intothe elderberry, a fruit commonly used to makeEuropean wine, Hungarian brandy and sambu-ca. Trummer found a jam and marmalade pro-ducer in Austria to package, label and export thezesty, peach-flavored elderflower syrup he uses atthe bar. He recommends it for flavoring cham-pagne, but his signature elderflower drink issomething called the Grape.

Trummer muddles eight to 10 Concordgrapes with a touch of Grand Marnier; he thenadds a squeeze of fresh lime, brown sugar, elder-flower essence and Roberto Cavalli vodka. Theingredients are shaken over ice and served in atumbler like this one from iittala, sold atGlottman in Miami for $38 per set of two. Tart,sugary and heaping with ice, the Grape down-plays the taste of alcohol. Trummer said, “Agood drink is simple, not too showy and meansno hangover the next day.” David BouleyEvolution charges $13 for the drink and recom-mends it for those who love all things sweet.

A NEW TWIST ON A CLASSIC BY ELLIOT KOTLYAR

The Grape

THE GRAPE, AT DAVID BOULEYEVOLUTION

8 to 10 grapes, Concord if possible1⁄3 oz Grand Marnier1 tablespoon fresh lime juice1 teaspoon brown sugar1⁄3 oz elderflower essence2 oz Roberto Cavalli or Grey Goose

vodka

Muddle grapes and add Grand Marnier.Mix all ingredients in a shaker with iceand serve in a cocktail glass. Add a fewgrapes to garnish. You won’t know whathit you.

SWEET!The Grape served in an Ultima Thuletumbler from iittala.

T

PHO

TO B

Y X

AV

IER

MER

CA

DA

L