rome with a slight view

1 oz Kina L'Avion d'Or
1 oz Aperol
1 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Passion Fruit Syrup

Shake with ice and strain into a Collins glass with ice. Top with 2 oz soda water, garnish with a grapefruit twist, and add a straw.

For a second drink at Sichuan Garden II, Ran Duan suggested a Rome with a Slight View, a riff of Michael McIlroy's Rome with a View created at Manhattan's Milk & Honey. I was first introduced to McIlroy's recipe when Tyler Wang made his own spin, the Triumph of Pompei, at No. 9 Park. Ran softened the neo-classic's Campari by using Aperol instead, switched the dry vermouth to Tempus Fugit's Kina L'Avion d'Or, and added additional flavors by using passion fruit syrup instead of simple.
The grapefruit twist garnish's aroma helped to prepare the mouth for the carbonated citrussy wine sip. The swallow then donated a passion fruit and herbal swallow with a grapefruit-like finish.