Ray Tremblay

Tequila may have built its reputation in the U.S. via the margarita, but its star also shines bright in other concoctions, as evidenced by the Aji Alegre cocktail at Ruka. Corporate Beverage Director Ray Tremblay looked to the restaurant’s focus on Nikkei cuisine—the natural mashup of Peruvian and Japanese dishes and ingredients—as the foundational influence for the drink. Tequila lays the base, while the fruity and spicy aji amarillo pepper, a staple in Nikkei dishes, adds unique flavor and vivid color. Chinola passionfruit liqueur brings in sweet tropical notes; lime juice heightens the flavors with acidity; Martini & Rossi Fiero balances the sweetness and inserts its own depth; and a fl oral, aromatic lychee-coconut foam with lime zest finishes the drink, a multilayered build that’s both complex and refreshing.

Not only does the Aji Alegre boast a flavor profile that fi ts perfectly with Ruka’s food menu, it’s a visual stunner: vivid orange capped by frothy white foam and bright green lime zest. “We always know a tequila cocktail has a good chance of becoming a hit,” says Tremblay. “What we enjoy with this one is how well it goes with our cuisine at Ruka. The tropical citrus flavors combined with the fruity spice of the aji creates a sip you can’t help but go back for. Alegre has been a hit since the day we put it on the menu. It has now become our No. 1-selling cocktail.”