The Terrace at Trump's LeQoinne Rice Talks Cocktails

[Photo: Timothy Hiatt]

If you're looking for a refreshing, natural way to drink this summer, GREY GOOSE® Pressé has your answer. Inspired by fresh ingredients, GREY GOOSE Pressé is a delicious collection of cocktails that keeps things simple, marrying your ripest local fruit with the smooth taste of GREY GOOSE vodka.

We're nearing the end of summer, but LeQoinne Rice, mixologist at the stunning Terrace at Trump, is still making the most of the season's bounty. A true pro behind the bar, Rice is keeping things fresh by incorporating local, seasonal ingredients into his stellar cocktail menu. You can catch him at The Terrace through the end of August, then below deck in Rebar in the colder months. After the jump, read LeQoinne Rice's thoughts on seasonal cocktails and learn his favorite GREY GOOSE.

Do you see the demand for locally sourced ingredients in dining translate to the bar program?
Absolutely! Local means fresh and fresh means better tasting cocktails—we have amazing resources 'in our own backyard' and with access to so many locally grown products, we are able to create more depth of flavors in our cocktail program.

Do customers ever ask you where your ingredients come from, or do you find that is just not on the minds of drinkers?
With our customers, it seems like it's more about the level of quality than the where. They want the best ingredients, wherever they happen to come from. Happily, we have an amazing variety of local produce and ingredients that come from inside and very close to the city, which makes it easy to satisfy our customers and use the best of what can be found in the region.

How often do you change the menu? What seasonal ingredients do you try to rotate in when summer strikes?
Our menu changes at minimum seasonally, however we are constantly bringing in new product to our bar, so usually, it's quite a bit more often than that. It's great to stay fresh and capture the essence of every season, so during summer, our ingredients reflect the changing season, going from cherries, raspberries, and rhubarb into apple and peppers as it gets later into the season.

What's your favorite ingredient right now?
Hands down it's Thai basil! It blends sweet aromas, clove and a hint of spice. I've been using it in muddles and syrups lately and have been thrilled with the results.

For you, what makes a well-balanced cocktail?
They all have their own balance, depending on what the flavor profile is, but the play between citrus and sweetness is absolutely key to a great cocktail.

Here now, LeQoinne Rice's favorite GREY GOOSE recipe:
GREY GOOSE Citroen, Thai basil, St-Germain, fresh squeezed lemon juice, Angostura bitters and a prosecco float.