Spirit handler Alan Walter of Loa on his 'Red Wing' cocktail | NOLA.com

Inspired by a Voodoo theme, Mixologist Alan Walter offers cocktail fans a new twist on a summer beverage.

Mixologist Alan Walter of Loa conjures up a Red Wing cocktail In keeping with the Voodoo theme, mixologist Alan Walter, of Loa at the International House Hotel, 221 Camp St., prefers to call himself a "spirit handler." On a smoldering June afternoon, Walter conjured a complex new summer cocktail before our video cameras. Christened the Red Wing, the mercury-lowering beverage is a crushed watermelon ice, suffuse with boutique apple brandy, Italian vermouth, tender sprigs of aromatic tarragon and several other natural flavors and aromatics. Preparation required several brutal blows from a medieval-looking wooden maul (to reduce frozen watermelon juice to pink slush) as well as an energetically agitated shaker cup. Watch video

Alan Walter, of Loa at the International House Hotel, 221 Camp St., prefers to call himself a “spirit handler.” On a smoldering June afternoon, Walter conjured a complex new summer cocktail before our video cameras.

Christened the Red Wing, the mercury-lowering beverage is a crushed watermelon ice, suffuse with boutique apple brandy, Italian vermouth, tender sprigs of aromatic tarragon and several other natural flavors and aromatics. Preparation required several brutal blows from a medieval-looking wooden maul (to reduce frozen watermelon juice to pink slush) as well as an energetically agitated shaker cup.

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