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The Missing Piece

Four Seasons Maui

The Missing Piece

Four Seasons Maui is famous for its Mai Tai, but the cocktail people talk about afterward is The Missing Piece — a sparkling, savory-sweet creation from the resort's mixology team, poured at the Lobby Lounge and at Ferraro's Bar e Ristorante down on the sand.

It leans on upcountry Maui: Kula strawberries picked on the slopes of Haleakalā, fresh basil, a whisper of aged balsamic, and Hawaiian-made Ocean Organic Vodka distilled from island sugarcane and deep seawater.

The balsamic is the trick. One teaspoon turns strawberry from candy into something grown-up — jammy, herbal, and just tart enough to keep pace with the bubbles and the sunset.

Recipe

The Missing Piece

Serves 1

Ingredients

  • 3 ripe strawberries
  • 2 basil leaves
  • ½ oz simple syrup
  • 1 tsp aged balsamic glaze
  • 1½ oz vodka
  • 3 oz brut sparkling wine or Prosecco
  • Strawberry slice and a basil leaf, to garnish

Directions

  1. Muddle the strawberries and basil with the simple syrup and balsamic glaze.
  2. Add the vodka and fill the shaker with ice.
  3. Shake hard for 10–15 seconds, until frosty.
  4. Fine-strain into a chilled coupe or flute.
  5. Top with the sparkling wine.
  6. Garnish with a thin strawberry slice and a slapped basil leaf.

One teaspoon of balsamic is the whole trick — it turns the strawberry jammy instead of candied.