Ginger or Rosemary, Honey?
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 1 oz honey
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 1 oz water
- a few slices ginger (muddled)
- a couple sprigs fresh rosemary (muddled)
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary (garnish)
Quick Instructions
Quick Instructions
Muddle ginger slices and rosemary in a shaker with vodka, water, lemon juice, and honey. Add ice and shake. Strain into a glass and garnish with a rosemary sprig.
Long Winded Instructions
The answer is, "both... also honey.” If this cocktail is a broadway musical, the ginger and rosemary share the leading role. Sure, the honey is an important character, but that’s not who the crowd throws roses and panties at during the curtain call. Lemon makes a solid impression too, but you don’t hear it complaining. Lemon knows that this is just a stepping stone to bigger roles in other drinks. Hmm… I think I’ve gotten lost in my own metaphor. No matter. On to the instructions.
You’re going to want some fresh ginger and rosemary for this one. Slice the ginger into small coins. No need to peel or mince. Three to six coins will be good, depending on how much you like ginger. Throw those in your shaker. Add the rosemary. A couple of sprigs will do. We’re gonna muddle these two. Prepare your muddling stick.
Now, I like to throw in the vodka, water, lemon juice, and honey before I muddle. I imagine that as I crush the ginger and rosemary under the might of my muddling club, the flavors will seep into and be captured by the vodka. Maybe you feel differently. Maybe you prefer to muddle them dry before you add the liquid. If you do, perhaps you’ll write your own blog. *sigh
I’m sorry to get so defensive. It’s just that I find your hypothetical objections so rude. Ok... I’m better now. I’m sorry you all had to see that.
Now that we’ve muddled and combined our ingredients. Give it a good stir and make sure that the honey has dissolved into the rest of the liquid. Add the ice and shake now. If you add the ice before the honey has dissolved, it might harden and glob together throwing off your whole ratio. Add a fancy ice cube to your glass and strain the mixture into it.
The ginger coins and rosemary sprigs will be captured by the strainer, but I like to see some small bits get through into the glass. This means you did some real good muddling back there.
Add a rosemary sprig as garnish for a classy touch. Serve right away and await the inevitable praise for a job well done.