Nestled in The Historic Pearl’s beautifully reimagined space that was once home to the critically acclaimed Il Sogno Osteria, the modern Mediterranean grill house, Ladino, is a true celebration of bold flavors and aromas of the diverse peoples that define the region it draws roots from.

Born and raised in Tel Aviv, a city well known for its rich culinary scene, Chef Berty Richter fell in love with cooking early. Having cooked alongside his grandmother, he became acutely aware of bold tastes in surprisingly simple ingredients. And where his bold dishes expand your pallet, Ladino’s veteran bar manager Houston Eaves and barman Steven Richoff stay incredibly in sync.

The Rakia a la Mode not only beautifully showcases the San Antonio distilled Balkan staple, rakia, in a leading role, but further marries Kinsman with star anise-clove-allspice-cinnamon syrup, a house-made dark chocolate sorbet, and a half ounce of vanilla heavy cream with a touch of Averna Amaro.

Garnished with a single star anise and a pinch of urfa pepper, this holiday cocktail is full-on-brand for one of San Antonio’s latest culinary successes, and a must stop for any serious imbiber.

Swing by now through NYE to get your hands on a Rakia a la Mode!