Miami Patch's Featured Cocktail: NCL's Award-Winning Legend Reviver

MIAMI — Inspired by legendary cocktails with a hint of the exotic, the Legend Reviver is the award-winning creation of Norwegian Cruise Lines' mixologist Wade Cleophas, who was recently named the 2017 BACARDÍ® Legacy Cruise Competition Bartender of the Year.

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His cocktail sailed past 2,500 other entries from 13 different cruise lines to claim the title in a live competition at Miami's very own Alter restaurant.

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Nearly 2,000 servings of this specialty drink have already been enjoyed by Norwegian guests, including many on board the Norwegian Escape, where Wade is the assistant beverage manager.

Wade’s winning creation is made from BACARDÍ® OCHO (8) ANOS, star anise infused sweet vermouth, caramel/cinnamon syrup with drops of whisky barrel aged bitters and finished with a mist of Absinthe

Even the lemon peel garnish is meant to evoke the sails of a merchant ship and the wings of the BACARDÍ bat.

Wade next advances to The BACARDÍ Legacy Global Cocktail Competition in Berlin while he shares his recipe with Miami Patch readers.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Bacardi 8
• 0.75 ounce Star Anise infused sweet vermouth
• 0.25 ounce Monin caramel/cinnamon syrup
• 3 drops Fee Brothers Whiskey Barrel aged Bitters
• Mist of Absinthe

For the garnish: Lemon peel and Star Anise. Refer to the photo below. Make sure that the skin side is facing down.

Directions:

• Prepare the Star Anise infused sweet vermouthe by infusing 8 Star Anise pods into 1 liter of sweet vermouth for 8 hours. Set aside.
• Prepare the Monin caramel/cinnamon syrup by combining 2 parts Monin caramel syrup with 1 part Monin cinnamon syrup.
• Mist a serving glass with Absinthe and set aside.
• Fill a mixing glass about 70 percent of the way with fresh ice.
• In another mixing glass, combine remaining ingredients except the ice.
• To the mixing glass with the ice, add the liquid mixture.
• Stir until all liquid touches the ice.
• Into the misted serving glass, strain the mixture.
• Garnish with lemon peel and Star Anise.

Mixologist Wade Cleophas poses with his Legend Reviver courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Lines