When it comes to cocktails, we all have our favorites; in the springtime, I like a French 75 with vodka, not gin which remind me of late afternoons at a sidewalk café in Paris. During the height of summer, I like something citrusy with a herbal, green garden twist like a mojito or something with a savory, deep citrus character like a Paloma. In the late summer with it’s long, hot breezeless afternoons I prefer tequila which brings me to my new favorite concoction which I call ‘Autumn Awakes’.

I’ve been working on a seasonal cocktail with a tequila base featuring local Chicago-based spirits by Apologue. Their exquisite line of liqueurs are the result of some of Chicago’s best and brightest mixologists and spiritologists; Robby Haynes of Violet Hour, renown bar chief and beat virtuosos Ziyad Asrar, and local ingredient sourcing guru Jordan Tepper. This gifted trio has created three all-natural liqueurs: Aronia Berry, Persimmon Bittersweet, and Celery Root Herbal. Their liqueurs are presented in a 100% natural state, made with organic cane sugar, and all ingredients are sourced in the Midwest.

Apologue also fulfills an important role in the community by forming partnerships with nonprofit groups such as Growing Solutions Farm, which teaches agricultural skills to people with autism. The farm has dedicated some of its land to growing celery root for the exquisitely savory Celery Root herbal liqueur.

My first cocktail features Aronia Berry Liqueur; this beautiful liqueur presents layered summer fruits with waves of decadent chokeberries (Aronia), tart cherries, raspberries, and orange peel with floral overtones of lavender, rosehips, and an intriguing hint of cinnamon. In my recipe, I muddle this liqueur with ripe peaches, silver tequila, sweet Lillet, and a dash of grapefruit bitters.

Autumn Awakes
recipe for two cocktails

2 oz. Apologue Aronia Liqueur
3 oz. of tequila (I prefer Herradura Silver)
1 oz. Lillet Blanc
1 lime, juiced
3 dashes grapefruit bitters
1/2 ripened peach, muddled

Slice the peach and add to a cocktail mixing glass then muddle.

Add the rest of the ingredients to the glass, mix, and strain. At this point, you can either serve on ice or fill a shaker 1/2 way with ice and shake for 15 seconds. Serve and enjoy.