Spike Your Sweet Tea This Summer

Quench your thirst with this refreshing twist on John Daly’s spiked Arnold Palmer made by Watson Fitts, bartender at The Fearrington House Inn in Fearrington Village. “I wanted to create a play on something familiar,” Watson says about the sweet tea-lemonade-vodka drink called The Daly Double. To create its unique flavors, he steeps a strong rooibos tea, crushes a bit of ginger, spoons in some sugar and simmers the brew for 15-20 minutes, forming a syrup. Watson cuts large blocks of ice by hand to fit perfectly into a low-ball glass and garnishes the cocktail with a thinly sliced lemon, blackened with a handheld torch. He combines all ingredients in a stainless steel shaker before pouring the liquid through a double sieve. “That last step is essential so it doesn’t look hazy,” Watson says. “I like to see the ice cube. If I really pay attention to the details, I find the guest enjoys the drink that much more.”