Summer gives us many reasons to celebrate, from graduations and long lazy days to vacations that have been on the calendar for months. Such occasions deserve something to toast with, like a dry Sauvignon Blanc or a pro-level Margarita. Or perhaps something a little more unusual to appease intrepid tastebuds?
Granted, the classics are great, from Old Fashions to signature tiki drinks, but sometimes you want something extra unique. That’s where Beity comes into play. The Chicago restaurant specializes in neo-Lebanese food and has an award-winning cocktail program. We couldn’t resist when they offered us a recipe for a drink that combines gin with green Chartreuse and a touch of arak, a Lebanese anise-based concoction.
See, a cocktail can be vacation in a glass, encapsulating the flavors and fragrances of faraway places. We must admit, we’d love to be sitting at a barstool in Beirut but sometimes a trip so distant just isn’t in the cards. That’s where an evocative and well-made cocktail comes into play. The best ones bring some of that distant flair and flavor to your home bar.
This drink takes you right to a lesser-known part of the Mediterranean and will impress your friends this summer during backyard hangouts and happy hours. Think sandy beaches and turquoise waters with windswept cedar and stone pine trees in the distance. It might seem like creating such a scene in the glass would involve a lot of ingredients and labor but fret not, we’ve got a cocktail that just about anybody can pull off. And you don’t need too much in the way of specialized equipment, nor an advanced degree in mixology.
Ready for the unsung cocktail hero of summer 2025? Read on for the recipe.
Day by the Sea
When you’re the recipient of a Michelin Exceptional Cocktail Award, you know how to mix a drink. This one comes on behalf of Beity and is a beautiful light green and topped with a foam that reminds of a marine layer at the beach. If you can’t find a proper bit of arak, substitute Absinthe, herbsaint, or ouzo. And if you’re in the mood for a proper meal in this vain, check out our Lebanese cuisine guide.
Ingredients:
Cocktail
- 1 1/2 ounces St. George Botanivore Gin
- 1/2 ounce Green Chartreuse
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 3/4 ounce simple syrup
- 1 full dropper of arak
Foam
- 3 ounces 30% saline solution
- 2 ounces egg white
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
Method:
- Add gin, lime juice, simple syrup, Green Chartreuse, and arak to a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- For foam, in a separate glass or container, combine saline solution, egg white, and lime juice.
- Place an aquarium bubbler into the mixture and let it run until a thick foam forms on top (about 30–60 seconds).
- Spoon a generous amount of foam onto the top of the cocktail and serve.
In need of some more inspiration this summer? Check out our related features, covering topics like best barbecue beers and pairing wine and seafood. Let’s raise a glass to the longest days of the year.
