Destination: Cocktail

It’s the year of the dragon, and if Klaus Puck has his way, you’ll be breathing fire in no time. Puck, the brother of chef Wolfgang Puck, oversees the wine and spirits program at WP24 Restaurant & Lounge by Wolfgang Puck at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Los Angeles. In this drink, tequila is mellowed by sweet Cointreau and cut with tart grapefruit and lime juice. The heat comes courtesy of a couple of jalapeño slices. Serve this with a spring roll for the perfect pre-dinner treat.

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Dragon’s Fire cocktail by Klaus Puck

2 slices of jalapeño

11/2 ounces Herradura añejo

3/4 ounce Cointreau

1/2 ounce grapefruit juice

1/2 ounce lime juice

1/2 ounce simple syrup

Muddle the jalapeño in a martini mixing glass, add the other ingredients and shake; salt the rim of a martini glass and strain the mixture into it. Garnish with a Thai basil leaf.

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WP24 Restaurant & Lounge, 900 W. Olympic Blvd., L.A. (213) 743-8824; https://www.wolfgangpuck.com.

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— Jessica Gelt