In that spirit, and for our first ever Monthly Cocktail Blog, I came up with a cocktail based around one of my favorite seasonal ingredients; asparagus.
Now, I understand that asparagus in a drink may sound a bit odd but you’re going to have to trust me on this one. This drink is incredibly refreshing and herbaceous — the perfect thing for a warm spring day.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Tools
- Boston Shaker
- Muddler
- Hawthorne Strainer
- Fine Strainer
- Coupe / Cocktail Glass of your choosing
- Vegetable Peeler
Ingredients
- Ice
- Absinthe (For Rinsing Glass)
- 1 Fresh Green Asparagus
- 1oz Simple Syrup (Recipe)
- 1oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 2oz London Dry Gin
- Lemon (For Garnish)
Make
Step 1: Muddle the Asparagus
Chop the asparagus into roughly 1-inch sections and drop them to the small side of your shaker. Then use your muddler to press and grind them against the bottom of the shaker, until they resemble a chunky paste.
Step 2: Add the Rest of the Liquids
The general rule with cocktails is to add your ingredients in order from cheapest to most expensive so in the case that you accidentally mess up, you’re not wasting your expensive spirits.
With that in mind add to the small side of the shaker:
- 1oz of simple syrup
- 1oz of fresh squeezed lime juice
- 2oz of London dry gin of your choice (I’m using one from Eastside Distillery in Portland)
Step 3: Prep Your Glass
Next, pull out your cocktail glass. We’ll want to add a small amount of absinthe to the bottom of the cocktail glass and swirl it around so that it’s lightly coating the whole of the glass. If there’s any excess pooling at the bottom, dump it out (or shoot it, I won’t judge).
Step 4: Add Ice and Shake
At this point, you’ll add your ice to the large side of your shaker so that it almost fills it. Pour your wet ingredients and the muddled asparagus over top of the ice and seal your shaker tight. Shake vigorously roughly 10-15 times or until the shaker has become cold and a frost begins to form on the outside.
Step 5: Double Strain
Separate your shaker with the ice and ingredients in the larger side. We’re going to do what’s called a double strain for this drink which will remove any ice chips or asparagus chunks that may have made it through our standard Hawthorne strainer.
Pouring through both our Hawthorne and our fine strainers, we’re going to pour our cocktail into our absinthe rinsed glass.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve
Now all that’s left is to garnish and enjoy! First, we’re going to remove a bit of lemon peel using our vegetable peeler. Take that lemon peel and, squeezing it between your thumb and index fingers, express the oils over the top of the glass. Wipe the peel around the rim of the glass to add further oils and aromatics and drop it in the drink.
That’s it! You’ve made yourself a Middleton’s Fix. Enjoy and make sure to check back periodically for more cocktail recipes!
Salud!
