Spicy cocktails are some of my favorite drinks but it is always important to have a balance in any drink that include peppers. In The Chadwick Adam Seger, of Nacional 27 in Chicago, has found that perfect balance of spicy, sweet and sour.
The spice comes from an interesting ginger-habanero infused simple syrup which allows the pepper to make an appearance without being in the spotlight. When that is combined with the tangy ginger and sweet pomegranate the drink is phenomenal and, as Seger intended, is a great variation of a Mojito.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1 Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 2 Lime quarters
- 16 Mint leaves
- 1 oz Ginger-habañero syrup**
- 1 1/2 oz Dark Rum
- 1 oz Pomegranate juice
- Soda
- Optional Garnishes: Sugar Cane Stick, Mint, Candied Ginger
Preparation:
- Muddle lime and mint in a 16oz pint glass until juicy and aromatic.
- Add syrup, rum, and pomegranate juice.
- Stir, fill with ice, and then stir.
- Top with soda, and stir once more.
- Optional Garnishes: Sugar Cane Stick, Mint, Candied Ginger
**Ginger-habañero syrup:
Note that the pepper is removed after 5 minutes. That is done so that the syrup is not overly hot, so forgetting about this important step will ruin an otherwise good cocktail.- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 seeded habañero pepper
- 2 oz sliced fresh ginger
- Heat to just before boiling.
- Remove from heat.
- Remove habañero 5 minutes after taking off of heat.
- Allow to cool completely and strain out ginger.
- Keeps sealed in refrigerator for 3 weeks.
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