Asheville (or as pronounced by the GPS...Ash VILLY) Moonshine

There are trends that incorporate bits of our heritage as they undulate or repeat over decades - nothing is new, right? And where better to find the most au courrant cocktail with a very personal twist than stunning Asheville, NC on Memorial Day weekend?

We caught a glimmer of Lex 18 through the lace curtained window when we went to put our name in for dinner at Bouchon (tres bien by the way).  A 45 minute wait seemed like exactly the right amount of time to have a cocktail...so instead of going up the hill to an old standby (Sazerac) we decided this weekend had been perfect for new experiences, so we'd give Lex a whirl.  Sometimes atomosphere has a much to do with enjoying a drink as the quality of the cocktail itself.  Lex 18 delivers.  Sitting across from my handsome gentleman who knows his Dizzy Gillespie from his Tito Puente, I admired the deco cut glass on the bar, the copper still embedded in the wall, the tin tiles on the ceiling, and the incredible music Patrick Lopez was coaxing from the upright piano.  While my date ordered a custom cocktail (hello rye and tequila - surprisingly good), I selected the Lemon Shine martini. 

This drink transcended the modern trend of classic cocktails by incorporating a lemon moonshine instead of an infused gin or vodka and further differentiate itself by balancing the high octane of the shine with a little elderflower liqueur. Served up in a proper martini glass (stem!) with a sugar rim and a unique lemon scented ice sphere, it definitely delivers an upgrade to the lemon drop martini and is an excellent aperitif. 

Lemon Shine - 8
Lex 18 atmosphere - 10
My incredible suitor - off the charts