Nester’s Refresher is a bracing riff on the Porto Tonico, with bitter Suze (a gentian liqueur) and bright lemon matched to the gorgeous nutty, honey-tinged flavors of white port. It’s the brainchild of Mike McDermott, bar manager at Tin Tin in Atlanta, who developed the drink as a perfect antidote to the region’s hot, sticky summer heat.
McDermott’s recipe calls for simple syrup as the sweetener, but it’s also delicious with lemon syrup or a lemon-forward oleo saccharum. And while the recipe does benefit from the anise-forward bite of Peychaud’s bitters, Angostura or lemon bitters will do in a pinch.
