This cocktail didn’t start seriously. My friends and I were at the great restaurant Wolcott’s and a few people decided to try one of their drinks that was similar to a Dirty Blonde. Of course, I had to take a sip and thought it was passable, but it inspired me to take the idea back home and start working on something that I thought was a little more unique. Instead of staying light, citrusy, and refreshing, I wanted a drink that was more all-season, all-weather, not just a summer sipper.
I found the taste I was looking for by adding some more body with Luxardo Maraschino, Lillet blanc, and a mix of my favorite bitters. I know that St. Germain is the “bartenders ketchup” and I try not to overuse it in any of my recipes. This fit the bill, though, and I think it’ll be a recipe I come back to as a crowd pleaser.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Sutler’s Gin
- 1 oz Lillet Blanc
- 1/2 oz St. Germain
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 oz Luxardo Maraschino
- 3 dashes Hella citrus bitters
- 1 dash Crude “Ginger No. 2” bitters.
Mix all ingredients, shake over ice, strain, and garnish with rosemary. What do you think?
