"The Vizier’s Tale started with an ongoing quest of mine to pair cocktails with art, specifically Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade.” I fell in love with the soaring violin theme that opens the second movement, which was in turn inspired by a character from One Thousand and One Nights—Scheherazade herself, the storyteller framing the narrative. Her story is one of purity, wit, and resilience in the face of the bitter, resentful king, so I aimed to incorporate that duality into the balance of the drink. The orange and iris petal of Caravedo Torontel pisco pair with Sauternes—a vibrant French dessert wine with delicate honeysuckle notes—to capture the airy elegance of her character and musical theme. Bonal, Salers, and Campari play the role of the king, threatening to take over with their intense, gentian-forward bitterness. I love how it evokes the essence of the story: the bitter finish entices me back to the bright bouquet, so I just can’t put it down." —JS