The Auld Lang by Bobby Heugel

For a New Year’s toast I turned to the talented Houstonian responsible for putting our town on the mixology map.  Bobby Huegel, 2013’s “bartender of the year” along with his partner Alba Huerta, is a cocktail “celebrity chef” here is Houston, responsible for opening Anvil Bar and Refuge in 2009 which has spawned numerous other award winning spots and garnered national acclaim.  His “Auld Lang” is a festive New Year’s drink which ups the ante on the concept of a champagne cocktail.  It combines the refreshing grapefruit aperitif Aperol with St.-Germain (an elderflower liqeuer), lime juice and rosemary infused simple syrup before topping it all off with champagne.  The result is rich, layered, earthy, sweet and celebratory.  Here’s hoping for a lovely year ahead filled with those same sentiments, along with strength, resiliency, longevity, health, peace and love.  Cheers!

Here's to a spirited New Year full of solvable puzzles

Auld Lang by Bobby Heugel

3/4 oz Aperol

3/4 oz St-Germain

3/4 oz lime

3/4 oz rosemary simple syrup

2 oz dry sparkling wine

Shake the first four ingredients together with ice and strain into a flute. Top with the sparkling wine. Rosemary sprig garnish.