Flame Thrower

Blazing hot grills and roaring flames aren’t just for chefs, as Thomas “T” Leggett, bar manager of Richmond, Va.’s The Roosevelt, knows first-hand. Leggett has charred everything from citrus to pineapple and even watermelon, creating sweet and smoky syrups and blackened fruit garnishes to produce crowd-pleasing cocktails for those who sidle up to his bar.

How did you get the idea to char and freeze lemons for a cocktail?...