Thursday Drink Night (TDN) is a weekly online cocktail gathering where each week a theme is chosen and enthusiasts assemble to challenge each other.
Here's where it gets interesting: the recipes created are posted on Twitter for the world to see. Among the Twitter account's nearly two thousand followers is Mutineer Magazine which reviews each recipe and publishes the best one.
Now, as I understand it, the original mission of this virtual gathering was for cocktail enthusiasts to throw together potent potables with whatever ingredients they had on-hand.
I suspect that over the years, for whatever reason, those guidelines have drifted significantly. I say this because each night that I've taken part I've felt a bit out of my league - and I'm a fairly seasoned bartender.
In any case, this past week's theme was gin. I had only an airplane bottle of Bluecoat American Dry Gin so I knew I had to get this drink right in one shot. The original recipe only had to be tweaked by two thirds of an ounce as you'll soon see.
La Vie en Rose
- 2 oz Bluecoat American Dry Gin
- 1 oz Laird's Applejack (or Calvados)
- 1/2 oz Dolin Blanc Vermouth
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 2-3 drops rose water
Shake ingredients with ice. Double strain into a chilled couple glass. Garnish with a single rose petal (if you have one).
This sipper is floral and delicate. Grafted with the gin botanicals, one can tease out the Applejack after each quaff which then punctuates finally with a slight sweetness.
I think those folks who still scoff at gin would find this a nice re-introduction to it.
Alright CHECK IT OUT,
ReplyDeleteGin and apple? ROSE WATER? I came home a few days ago dying to make this thing. I swore that I had lemons at home and... I didn't. Unfazed, I subbed lime juice. It was AWFUL. Don't do it.
I just finally nabbed some lemons and re-made it. This is much more savory than I expected. A nice tart bracer that I might compare to a Pegu cocktail. I added just a bit more rose water for my taste. I like drinking perfume. Cheers!
Sorry I have more to add as I'm finishing the thing up. The bit of lemon and applejack combine with the gin to add a bit of floral character that would have been there even without the rose water. Well done!!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, the floral elements were already there and I questioned whether I even needed the rose water. Also, someone in TDN asked me if the water was mixed in with the drink or a few drops were placed on top which was interesting. I wondered if it would change the experience that way. I may try it tonight.
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