Ava Crowder Cocktail

Inspired by the bounty of the nearby Gulf Coast and produce from restaurant Coltivare’s 3,000-square-foot working garden, Chef/Owner Ryan Pera (a 2018 James Beard Award Semifinalist for Best Chef: Southwest) presents a menu that pays homage to his Italian heritage. Think fresh, local ingredients in simple, seasonal pasta, pizza and vegetable dishes. Coltivare is part of Agricole Hospitality, home to six restaurant concepts in Houston, Texas.

The Ava Crowder Cocktail is the brainchild of Co-Owner and Beverage Director Morgan Weber. The additional element of sorghum vinegar, which should be prepared before mixing the rest of the cocktail, adds a unique Southern touch to this bourbon-based drink, which is named after the tough widow from TV show “Justified.”

1.5 oz. bourbon
.75 oz. Ramazzotti
.75 oz. lemon
.25 oz. sorghum vinegar*
.25 oz. simple syrup
3 dashes Woodford Reserve Sorghum & Sassafras Bitters

Sorghum Vinegar
2 parts Muddy Pond Sorghum Molasses
1 part Steen’s Cane Vinegar

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Double strain the beverage into a coupe glass. Garnish with two cherries and enjoy.