Sips of the Silk Road highlight legacy of traders
Recipe
Beijing's Tiki Lounge was recently forced to close in the wake of a hutong demolition, but fans of the well-executed concept eagerly await its resurrection in a new location. Meanwhile, Hawaiian-shirted barman Phil Tory shares this recipe for one of his signature cocktails.
Silk Road fun fact: Fresh litchi was in such demand at China's imperial court that the fastest horses available were dispatched to deliver the fruits from Guangdong province. Powdered litchi fruits from China's tropical areas have long been mixed with tea to make a sweet and flavorful brew that is said to be good for the skin.
GOODBAI FUMANCHU
.25 oz simple syrup
.5 oz lime juice
.75 oz orange juice
1 oz litchi juice
1.5 oz Anejo rum
.5 oz Bye Joe Dragon Fire baijiu
3 drops almond extract
Lemon, lime wheel, speared fresh red chili garnish.
One reason for the name Goodbai Fu Manchu, says Tiki's Oliver Davies, is that the fictional archvillain was a nasty character, and a lot of Chinese beliefs are centered around shooing away bad luck and bad spirits and welcoming in good spirits. The good spirits, naturally, are in the glass.
