Union Kitchen’s Bar Manager MeKayla Roy creates the Wizard of Ahhs.

Union Kitchen
43 LaSalle Road
West Hartford, CT

A Connecticut Restaurant Association’s 2023 CRAzies nominee for Restaurant of the Year: Hartford County, Union Kitchen continues to bring best-in-class dining experiences to the West Hartford restaurant scene. Owned by Bean Restaurant Group, the venue is led by Head Chef Tim East and General Manager Vish Badami. East brings his own philosophy of cuisine to the table, with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients to create a variety of modern American dishes. Curated by Badami, Union Kitchen’s wine list has been recognized for excellence twice by Wine Spectator. The venue also specializes in inventive craft cocktails using an array of high-end brands, fresh ingredients and seasonal inspiration led by Bar Manager MeKayla Roy. The cocktail menu features re-imaginings of classic offerings along with tastes that may be new to guests’ palates.

Bar Manager: MeKayla Roy

Cocktail: Wizard of Ahhs

Ingredients:
» 1 oz. Agave de Cortés Mezcal
» 1 oz. Dolin Dry Vermouth
» .5 oz. Geijer California Fernet
» .5 oz. Giffard Crème de Pamplemousse
» Garnish: lemon swath

The Wizard of Ahhs. Photo by Christopher Hodson, Cooked in Connecticut.

Method: Add all ingredients to a mixing glass. Serve up, express with a lemon swath and discard.

The Wizard of Ahhs cocktail creates an approachable starter for guests who may be new to the world of mezcal, explained Bar Manager MeKayla Roy. “I wanted to make a mezcal drink that would be a good introduction for someone that hasn’t previously tried mezcal. It is the perfect balance of smoky and herbaceous, laced together with delicate citrus notes.”