Enjoyed: Friday, July 31, 2026.

Listed on the menu: Yes, as “Southern Garden”

Ingredients: Old Forester 100 proof bourbon, sweet tea syrup, peach, tobacco.

The occasion: Our goal is to visit all fifty US states, and driving through a state (or connecting through an airport) doesn’t count. Neither of us had ever actually stopped to DO anything in Rhode Island, so we planned this trip to Providence and Newport. We took the ferry to Newport the previous day, where we visited a bougie car museum, strolled on the Cliff Walk, and ate lobster roll, but we cut the day short due to unrelenting rain. Providence has many fine seafood restaurants, so on this Friday, after we explored the downtown area, the state capitol building, and the Lippett Mansion, we headed to Hemenway’s, located right on the Providence River. The next evening, Saturday, we returned to the river for Waterfire, a public art installation of eighty-six burning braziers floating just above the surface of the water. We took a 30 minute boat ride among these baby-bonfires, and yes, we could feel the heat, smell the wood, and see the sparks lifted over our heads by the breeze. What a unique multi-sensory experience!

My rating: ***** out of 5. My favorite part of this cocktail was the smell–like a brewed cup of black tea with subtle whiffs of pipe tobacco. The peach flavor was not too strong, so the drink was not overly sweet. Although we were in New England, I could picture myself happily sipping this on a porch swing of a mansion in Savannah.

Final thoughts: We started our evening with Rhode Island oysters and yellowfin tuna tartare, followed by a stuffed lobster and a seafood casserole. Our waiter assured us that even though mid-Atlantic seafood was good, New England’s was better. We enjoyed every bite, but this is not a competition–fresh Atlantic seafood is delicious in every region.