Alegría Lychee Cocktail: Agua Bendita’s Unique Flavor for Garnish Games!
GARNISH GAMES 2024
CONTESTANT: Donald Down
RESTAURANT: Agua Bendita
COCKTAIL: Alegría
Attention all cocktail connoisseurs! Join us on August 4th at Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station for the 6th Annual Garnish Games. Ten of Denver’s most talented bartenders are competing to create the most visually stunning garnish—and you can get in on the action! Try each of their cocktails at participating restaurants and bars leading up to the event, then cast your vote to advance six bartenders to the live finale. Come watch, taste, and see who takes home the winning title at Garnish Games 2024!
In this video, bartender Donald Down from Agua Bendita in Denver shows us how to create a refreshing and imaginative cocktail called Alegría. This cocktail combines the unique flavors of lychee, sake, and strawberries, resulting in a vibrant and flavorful drink that stands out.
To make this cocktail, you’ll need:
• 1.5 oz Don Julio Silver
• 1.5 oz Calpico Lychee
• 1 oz G Joy Sake
• 0.25 oz Amaretto Liqueur (shaken with diced strawberries and pickled ginger)
Garnish: The glass features a strawberry compote rim and holds a skewer of strawberry and ginger-stuffed lychee on a Strawberry Pocky stick that resembles a sea anemone.
Inspiration: The inspiration for this garnish came from the lychee fruit itself, with its distinctive shape, flavor profile, and texture. Donald was captivated by its originality and fun flavor, making it an exciting ingredient to experiment with. The garnish adds a unique sea anemone-like element to the Alegría cocktail, enhancing both its visual appeal and its refreshing taste.
The 6th Annual Garnish Games is a bartending competition in Denver presented by DiningOut Magazine and Diageo Brand Spirits, culminating with a live finale on August 4th, 2024, at Meow Wolf Convergence Station.