Ghost of Eucalyptus Trees Past

by Lisa Elbert, Tastemaker in Residence - as seen on StarChefs.com

The Ghost Coast is the liquid representation of a childhood memory. “My dad had a eucalyptus tree around which he built a tree house, and I climbed it every day,” says Jesse Harris, a principal bartender at Julie Reiner’s Leyenda. For the drink he blends two tequilas (Tromba reposado and Tapatio blanco 110 Proof), crème de banane, eucalyptus tincture, honey-maple syrup, and Angostura bitters. For the tincture, Harris rests eucalyptus leaves in 192-proof Spirytus Rektyfikowany. Its bright menthol character balances the sweeter elements of the drink, while the high-proof tequilas bring the ABV to dizzying, adult-tree house heights.