Boing! Spring’s here. Judging by all the desperate antics I’ve seen for the sun to come out (umm, sorry dude…but wearing shorts when it’s 23 degrees outside isn’t going to change the weather)…we’re ready.
With spring comes the earliest of edible harvests: fresh herbs.
In my last post I described what to do with fresh or dried herbs. In this one I’m taking the fresh factor to cocktail hour. Our city has two restaurants that absolutely excel at creative cocktails. Herbal cocktails to be specific. Both places are committed to developing their menus around what’s local and fresh. So it’s no surprise to see the garden show up in their drinks.
Here are some of the totally off-the-wall but completely delightful herbal cocktail combinations I’ve run across. Let’s make one thing clear. I’m not a mixologist. These are drink combinations that I’ve either tasted or run across and remembered. My hope is these will give you the creative boost to snip off some of your own herbs and see what you come up with.
Sage
Cassis, champagne, gin and muddled sage. Note–I enjoyed this cocktail at The Owl House. It was superb.
Rosemary
Classic gin and tonic dressed up with rosemary, and if you like, cucumber. I tried this version at a place called Lento. They muddled the rosemary—it was fresh bliss.
Lavender
Vodka, vermouth, simple lavender syrup and 1/2 vanilla bean.
Tarragon
Tequila blanco, lemon & lime juice, agave syrup, tarragon. Another Owl House invention. Tastes like a margarita…but better.
Cilantro
I found a spirit called Herb’s Cilantro Vodka. Clever name. Knowing that cilantro has a love-hate relationship with people I couldn’t resist putting this in. One recipe called for the cilantro vodka, lime juice and orange liqueur. It’s called the Cilantro Herbarita. Another suggested the vodka with lime juice, brown sugar, and pomegranate juice. (This sounds a little I-don’t-know… to me, but it may be surprisingly tasty.)
April 7, 2011 at 7:46 pm
Lol! Love the title of your bpost. The closest I’ve come to herbal cocktails is Mojitos…i think I’ve to be more adventurous 🙂
Couldn’t find the follow button for your blog 🙁
April 7, 2011 at 9:09 pm
Mojitos are in a category all their own! And it is quickly becoming that mojito season. Aaah…
Thanks for chiming in! BTW–compliments on the poetry in your blog. Food and poetry—a natural twosome.
April 14, 2011 at 7:11 pm
They all sound fantastic…the Cilantro Herbarita, sounds very interesting.
April 26, 2011 at 10:49 am
Mmmm…these sounds like some wonderful combinations! Too bad that here in Paris, there is such a paucity of bars and lounges with true mixologists who use herbs and spices in their cocktails. But slowly but surely it’s getting here. In the meanwhile, we will make our own infused liquors and cocktails, so your ideas here are great and really helpful!
May 4, 2011 at 9:47 am
French mixologists…wow, that could be quite interesting! Still, one of my favorite summer apperitifs comes from France…Pernod or Ricard with water for a pastis.