Receta The Elegant British Cocktail
This year is truly the year of the Brit. From the Golden Jubilee celebrations to the Olympics (and not forgetting the birthday of a certain Mr. Dickens), I feel truly proud of our accomplishments and a little bit sad that I am not there to partake of what seems to be an unending stream of parties.
While jumping for joy after watching Andy Murray add to our list of gold medalists with his win at Wimbledon on Sunday, it occurred to me that I needed to do a blog on something very British. So I contacted a fellow Old Lawrentian, Nidal Ramini, who is my go-to person for all things stylishly drink-related. Since Nidal is based in London, but also a representative for some of Kentucky's finest (Woodford Reserve), I knew he would be able to track down some quintessentially British cocktails for me.
Now to me, someone who can create an incredible new cocktail is something akin to an alchemist. The fact that they make it look so easy and the end result look so visually stunning adds to their mystique. So, if you still think the prime example of a cocktail is a pina colada, read on, and prepare to have your taste buds truly tantalized by the following creations...
My only experience of Dandelion and Burdock was a fizzy soda of the name when I was many, many moons younger. I absolutely loathed the taste and so have never gone near it again. However, the concept of bitters fascinates me since it is basically an herbal essence in alcohol. So I am more than willing to ignore one childhood memory so that I can try this cocktail, created by Adam Elmegirab and named after English Garden designer Charles Bridgeman.
The Bridgeman Fizz:
50ml Tanqueray
2 Dashes Dandelion & Burdock Bitters
100ml Fentiman's Rose Lemonade
15ml Homemade lemon sherbet
Method: Build over cubed ice and lightly stir
Glass: Highball / Collins
Garnish: Fresh cucumber and mint sprig
Ice: Cubed
The next two recipes were kindly passed on from Nathan Merriment, bartender at The American Bar at The Savoy. Don't be fooled by the suggestion of Americanism; these are most definitely British.
The Road to Glory:
- 50ml Bombay Dry Gin
- 25ml Lemon Juice
- 25ml Fresh Pineapple Juice
- 2 dash Grapefruit Bitters
- 15ml Castor Sugar
- 10ml Kamm & Sons
Method: Add Citrus and Castor Sugar to shaker and stir to dissolve add the rest
of ingredients and shake thoroughly.
Garnish: Grapefruit Wedge
Glass: Goble
As if you had any doubts, what could be more charmingly British than a cocktail served in a silver tea pot:
Unity Punch
50 ml Bombay Dry Gin
15 ml lemon juice
15 ml camomile tea
15 ml Lemon and Sage Syrup
2 dashes of celery bitters
Method: Stir all ingredients in mixing glass. Prepare silver tea pot with dry
ice inside. Strain into tea pot and serve into chilled tea cup from pot.
GARNISH: lemon zest
Photo courtesy of www.morguefile.com