Asafoetida is a gum resin with a distinct eggy, sulfurous quality. It’s a challenge to use on its own, but when compounded with other spices, it sharpens the character of each individual spice while simultaneously melding them together into a new, unique flavor. I’ve tried using asafoetida in a syrup to give savory, complex character to a cocktail inspired by South Indian flavors.

—Ethan Reynolds, Bartender, The Whistler, Chicago