The Spiked Apple
: No sweet treat harmonizes with crisp holiday weather better than apple pie — except frothy, tippling, chilled apple-pie-in-a-glass.
Combining apple spice compote and rosemary-caramel syrup (both house-made) with traditional Hennessy VS cognac and Frangelico, staff at the progressive tapas lounge Mercat a la Planxa have unexpectedly created a spiked beverage so reminiscent of family holidays you’ll want to jump in a leaf pile afterward. Caramelized Granny Smiths, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, apple cider and floating flecks of fresh rosemary achieve fresh-out-of-mom’s-oven taste.
Revealing more intricacy than an appletini, neither aromatic fruit nor brawny cognac overshadow the other, signaling a well-balanced, multifaceted cocktail. Climb the spiral staircase, settle at the cozy seven-seat bar after a Michigan Avenue shopping excursion and watch bartender Nicole Donahue drip gooey caramel syrup into the tumbler before shaking your drink. Nibble on the melty chocolate croquettes for a satisfying dessert pairing following Iron Chef America Jose Garces’ dinner menu.
638 S. Michigan Ave., 312-765-0524,
— Daniel Gerzina, special to the Tribune
