Michael DiSano, Mixologist, Clubhouse Manager, Brook-Lea CC
Michael DiSano, Mixologist and Clubhouse Manager of Brook-Lea Country Club (Rochester, N.Y.), says his Brook-Lea Butterfly cocktail, made with gin, fresh-squeezed juice and butterfly pea flower tea, is the perfect intro to gin for interested members.
“We have had success with this drink among our diverse club demographic,” DiSano says. “This cocktail only comes out once a year, during the spring; it is exclusively a seasonal springtime cocktail that our members really enjoy early on in the golf season.”
Club + Resort Chef (C+RC): What was the inspiration behind this drink?
Michael DiSano (MD): What inspired me is where I live. Rochester, N.Y., has beautifully changing seasons, and I like to create drinks that coincide with this. This was a springtime-inspired cocktail.
C+RC: How would you describe the flavors?
Click here for The Brook-Lea Butterfly recipe.
MD: The flavors are light and revitalizing. What makes this drink taste so good is the cucumber that you get from it. The cucumber juice in the drink is light and crisp and you get that refreshing feeling on your palate. It works well with the botanicals of the gin that is poured on it.
C+RC: What makes this a successful drink?
MD: It is visually stimulating! When walking through the restaurant, members will ‘shop with their eyes,’ and after they indulge, they are impressed with the flavors and how well they work together.
All of our signature drinks are measured with a jigger to make a perfectly balanced craft cocktail.
C+RC: What about this drink makes you most proud?
MD: The overwhelming member reaction to its look and taste.
I strive to always create exceptional-tasting cocktails, and I like to teach our members how to drink gin properly. Members will say, “I’d like to be a gin drinker.” This cocktail is a great introduction to gin cocktails, especially if members are reluctant to try it.
