Many posh hotels and lux residences around the world house restaurants on street levels. Some, on the rooftops, yet most are simply mediocre, at best.

At Thompson Hotel on the Riverwalk, the winning recipe hasn’t simply been in a posh hotel and lux residences. Instead, Thompson Hotel’s ground floor restaurant Landrace’s winning combo is in the culinary team run by James Beard finalist Steve McHugh, and his bar staff’s drive to permeate his “landrace” theme in the cocktail builds you imbibe.

Fancy, in décor, Landrace’s Brandy Alexander Tour cocktail Retro Reverie is derived from anything but. It’s use of the locally distilled Kinsman Rakia, combined with heavy whipping cream and a house made gelato, epitomizes all things landrace – an agricultural term used to signify locally grown and evolved species of plant and animal varieties, and distinguish from simply trucking in or planting non-native species - a  theme often employed by faux-local spirit brands.

Created by Norwich, Connecticut-born bar manager Caitlyn Vittucci, the Retro Reverie cocktail is served up in a coupe, with just enough dashes of Angostura to quell any fears of an overly sweet or creamy dessert drink. Whether enjoyed after dinner, or a meal substitute, the Retro Reverie is as pretty on the eyes as it is on the pallet. 

Visit now through NYE and try one for yourself!