Lillian Hargrove has cocktails on her mind. That might seem obvious, as Hargrove is Rhumbar’s mixologist and cocktails are essential in her line of work. But then again, it’s not just work for her.
“People ask about my hobbies and, well, I make drinks. It’s all I ever really wanna do,” says Hargrove, who points out a canvas bag filled with lapsang souchong-infused tequila, freeze-dried watermelon powder and an assortment of molecular gastronomy constituents for a project she’s working on. “That’s the kind of stuff that I get into when I’m at home.” Hargrove also admits to having “too many” mixology books and compares the fascination to a kid obsessed with his or her hobby. “When does this conversation about dinosaurs end? It’s like that.”
When you’re at Hargrove’s bar at The Mirage, she’s going to find a new favorite drink for you, even if you don’t know a thing about cocktails. That’s her goal and a favorite part of the job.
Lemon Basil Caipirinha
“Some people can walk into a hamburger joint and tell you exactly what toppings they want and how they want it cooked,” Hargrove says. “But cocktails are different.” So she’ll engage customers in something she calls the “adjective game” to figure out established likes and tastes like “boozy,” “spicy” or “herbal,” before giving you something with more advanced tastes like Nolet’s gin or Green Chartreuse. “You say you like Jack and Coke and some bartenders might scoff. But to me, it speaks volumes.”
Lemon Basil Caipirinha
This libation originally represented Brazil’s soccer team in a promotion during the 2014 World Cup, but it’s since earned a spot on Rhumbar’s cocktail list by popular demand. This version switches the traditional caipirinha’s lime with lemons, which are muddled with basil syrup, mixed with Leblon cachaça and garnished with a basil leaf. Unlike that ill-fated soccer squad, this cocktail finishes strong, with clean basil notes tempering the lemon’s tartness and cachaça’s sweetness.
