Fix your friends a drink that won’t weigh them down, courtesy of James Beard Award nominee Todd Thrasher of PX Lounge in Old Town Alexandria.

The Detox
Makes one drink

Ingredients
1 lemon
½ qt. of water
1 qt. maple syrup
3 tbsp. cayenne pepper
1½ oz. Cirrus vodka

1. Cut lemon in half. Roast the halves flesh-side down for 30 minutes at 300°. Let cool; juice the lemon.

2. Bring water to a simmer. Add maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Whisk until well blended; cool. (This is going to make a whole lot more than you need, so roast more lemons and make more drinks.)

3. Combine the vodka, lemon juice, and 1 oz. maple syrup-cayenne mixture in a shaker.

4. Strain over ice. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Photo: Courtesy of PX Lounge