Eric Syed

At Parche, a contemporary Colombian eatery, Eric Syed, beverage director, sought to harmonize tradition and innovation by infusing his bar menu with both classic and modern flavors. “We wanted Parche to embody the combination of traditional stories and flavors with modern cuisine and presentation,” he says. He drew inspiration from Chía, the moon goddess revered by the Muisca, an ancient civilization that resided in eastern Colombia’s high plateaus. Syed crafted a gin-based cocktail honoring her legacy, aptly named Chía. He also weaved in a Tiki vibe, giving a nod to his boots-on-the-ground research for Parche, working in local Tiki bars. “Our Chía cocktail takes as much inspiration from my time at Tiki bars as it does from my experiences in Colombia,” says Syed. The drink has become a top seller at Parche.

“We found Alkkemist gin, a Spanish gin only distilled once a month under the full moon, and the story pretty much wrote itself after that. The Alkkemist is perfect, not only telling a story, but as a Spanish gin, it has bright notes of citrus oil, fresh herbs and flowers,” he says. “We use a locally produced orgeat, which has a distinct rose water finish. The Chía is bright and acidic, well balanced, with a sharp tropical fruit note mid-palate that finishes with lots of orange blossom, fresh herbs and citrus notes.”

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