Behind the Beverage: The It’s a Way of Life at Machete in Greensboro, NC

As savory cocktails continue to generate buzz, one North Carolina bar has created a drink inspired by the BLT sandwich. MJ Wheeler, beverage director at Machete in Greensboro, NC, debuted It’s a Way of Life this past summer, a cocktail that transforms the quintessential BLT into a glass.

The drink begins with vodka that’s fat-washed in rendered bacon fat, then layered with clarified lettuce and tomato water made from fresh produce. A house-made syrup that captures the flavors of Duke’s mayonnaise (a famous Southern condiment created in 1917) adds creamy richness, while lemon juice, saline solution, and black pepper tincture bring balance and brightness.

Wheeler finishes the cocktail with a playful garnish: a miniature BLT complete with candied bacon, pickled tomato, lettuce, Duke’s syrup and toast. The cocktail, priced at $15, leans into Southern nostalgia and peak tomato season with a playful, highly technical approach that tastes surprisingly familiar.

The post Behind the Beverage: The It’s a Way of Life at Machete in Greensboro, NC appeared first on Beverage Information Group.