Making Herstory

Bohème Bar Director Is a Finalist at Tales of the Cocktail Competition

Try the recipe she'll be pouring in New Orleans.

By Alice Levitt June 9, 2017

I am the lizard queen adrienne feinberg bfe001

We found this one swimming naked in the Fermentarium.

Remember 1993's season four, episode 13 of The Simpsons? If you don't recall every line of "Selma's Choice," in which Marge's sister, Selma, takes Bart and Lisa to Duff Gardens amusement park, we have no use for you. And neither does Adrienne Feinberg. Montrose bar Bohème's general manager and beverage director. She's the creator of I Am the Lizard Queen, an homage to Lisa's legendary freak out after drinking the water in the Little Land of Duff ride. Cool, right? It gets cooler. Feinberg and the drink are among just five bartenders and their creations from around the country selected to take part in the Toast to Herstory competition at the massive, New Orleans-based festival, Tales of the Cocktail, which takes place July 18 through 23 this year.

The Herstory competition happens on July 21. Each entrant had to conceive of a drink paying homage to a legendary woman using a French Marie Brizard liquor as a central ingredient. If Feinberg wins, she'll be bestowed a custom leather bar roll filled with premium tools, and an all-expenses-paid trip to Bordeaux, to take part in the Marie Brizard Global Masters Competition 2018.

Other entrants dedicated their drinks to luminaries from Puerto Rican-American actress Rita Moreno to Taiwanese author Sanmao. Lisa is the only fictional character, but Feinberg refers to her as "one of the most iconic figures in history." 

At first glance, the drink doesn't bare a strong visual resemblance to the eternally eight-year-old vegetarian, but look (and taste) more closely: The ruby Port represents her handkerchief-hemmed red dress. The egg foam on top stands in for Lisa's permanent pearls. The orange slices on top? That's her signature 'do. All this matters, because Feinberg's explanation of the drink and how it relates to her choice of inspiring female is included in the judging.

Feinberg, of course, is a pretty iconic woman herself. She worked her way up from barista to bar manager and has a master's degree in nutrition, which motivates her to keep her drinks healthy and fresh. "All of our tinctures and shrubs are made in-house and the juices are fresh-squeezed," says Bohème owner Morgan Holleman. "We’re very proud of Adrienne and excited for her to be recognized on a national level by industry experts."

“I love dreaming up a creative cocktail and being able to make it for people,” says Feinberg. Right now, that means figuring out how to whip up egg foam for a group of 400 people.

Want to try the drink yourself before Feinberg heads to New Orleans? She provided us with the recipe.

I Am The Lizard Queen

  • 1.5 ounces Rittenhouse Rye
  • .75 ounces Marie Brizard Apry
  • .25 ounces lemon juice
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 ounce Kopke Fine Ruby Port

Dry-shake all ingredients except port. Add ice and shake. Strain open Hawthorne into chilled coupe. Slowly pour the port over the back of a bar spoon. Garnish with fanned orange slices.

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