Pumba

This elegant, couped cilantro cocktail is so good, it won bartender Jami Hawkins a coveted spot in this year’s Midwest Cocktail Competition (where she won the People’s Choice award). Hawkins, who co-owns the bar Common Spirits with her husband in Goshen, Indiana, wanted to up her cocktail game for the competition, and put forth this unconventional tiki beverage for consideration. Made with London Dry gin, cilantro, lime and spicy bitters, this Sour has a bit of heat and a strong herbal bite, tempered by a sweet toasted coconut simple syrup. Hawkins insists you only need to muddle the cilantro very lightly to extract the flavor.