Chef Grant Achatz and Charles Joly, The Aviary
At the recent Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival, Chicago Chef Grant Achatz of Alinea, Next and The Aviary came with his Aviary beverage director Charles Joly to talk about cocktails.
The cocktail demo kicked off with a “daiquiri” with a flavored ice ball. Both Grant and Charles talked about knowing the fundamentals. Grant likes margaritas. You might have never guessed that from the showy modernist cocktails. The second cocktail billowed dry ice up and down the aisles and was served in teacups. The third was so complicated, it was not feasible to let the hundreds of people watching the demo try it. Later, I did get to try a mezcal cocktail served from something that looked like it should be an art piece.
What’s in the Aviary Cocktail, Grant?
I dare you to order the Aviary Cocktail the next time you’re in Chicago.
The Aviary Cocktail
- 100g vodka
- 50g Red Bull
- 25g carbonated Gatorade
- 10g Midori
- 5g whey protein
- .5 Malort tincture
- 2 each fist bumps
I’m going to assume you shake the hell out of it.
The Aviary, by the way, won the James Beard Award for Best Bar Program. And Charles Joly won best American Bartender from the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards this year. However, I think this “cocktail” demonstrates cocktails are supposed to be fun. Bars are supposed to be fun places to go. At the end of the day, everyone wants a delicious cocktail.
Cocktails from the Aviary at the LA Food & Wine Grand Tasting
Related Reading:
The Minty checks out The Aviary
953-955 W Fulton St., Chicago, IL 60607
© LA Cocktails // The Minty 2013
LA Cocktails 