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Corey Levine FARMHOUSE AT ROGER ’ S GARDENS

FAVORITE DRINKS TO MAKE :
G . E . D ., UNTITLED AND SAND IN
MY BOOTS

With plenty of friends in the industry , Corey Levine was originally seeking a server position , but accepted one as a barback instead . “[ I ] ended up falling in love with the hustle , urgency and anticipation of the job ,” he explains . “ That then led me to becoming a bartender , developing a passion and orchestrating cocktails for a menu .”

He has since worked his way up to bar director at Farmhouse at Roger ’ s Gardens , and says he has always had an appreciation for classic cocktails , like the bijou , the Martinez and the daiquiri , which shape the drinks he creates at the farmto-table restaurant . Some of his favorites to craft include the Sand in My Boots , a simple concoction with tequila , yuzu , peach , lemon and a salt-andpepper rim , and the G . E . D ., which blends gin and Curaçao with bianco vermouth and Gran Classico Bitter . Levine also collaborates on the Swig for Selflessness cocktails that Farmhouse has offered since 2019 to benefit local charities , already raising funds for MemorialCare , Make-A-Wish Orange County & the Inland Empire , Orange County United Way and more this year alone .
“ It takes a certain type of artistry to build a wellbalanced cocktail ,” Levine says . “ Sometimes , the idea and the ingredients make sense in your mind , but don ’ t exactly translate . … I think I really enjoy the [ process of ] refinement . … It ’ s obviously great when it makes sense right away , but there is always room for improvement — always trying to perfect the imperfect .”
Left : Corey Levine , bar director at Farmhouse at Roger ’ s Gardens , uses his artistry to build a well-balanced cocktail . Some of his drinks include Untitled ( top right ) and Sand in My Boots ( bottom right ).
THIS PAGE : COURTESY OF FARMHOUSE AT ROGER ’ S GARDENS
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