Beuchert’s Saloon owner, Brendan McMahon, pulls a deli container filled with a light yellow-ish liquid from the refrigerator.

“You want to try and make something with this tomato water?”

I wince a little inside but say yes. Tomatoes aren’t really my thing. But the heirloom’s from the restaurant’s farm taste like grapes.

Basil, tomato, melon, cacha?a, and citrus. These flavors started to dance. Here’s what I came up with.

Brazilian Tomato Thief!
1 1/2 oz cachaca
3/4 oz hierloom tomato water
3/4 oz basil/melon syrup (1:1)
1/4 oz fresh lemon juice
1 dash of Bittermans Hellfire habanero shrub
Shake ingredients. Strain over fresh ice. Garnish with a sprig of basil.

The saltiness of the tomato water adds an interesting avenue of flavor to the drink. Water is also a major part of this little tipple. Without the dilution, none of these flavors would really bind together comfortably enough for a delicious cocktail.

Cheers!