Here’s a lovely springtime sipper that feels and tastes like a venerable classic despite its relatively recent 2008 vintage. It sorta reminds me of a classic Martini or a Vesper – but it goes down more smoothly than either.
The base sprit is Plymouth gin – a specific brand that’s a bit less edgy than a standard London dry. The gin combines beautifully with blanco vermouth – slightly softer than regular dry vermouth – and the fruity flavor of apricot eau de vie, to create a light, fruit-tinged cocktail that tastes as gentle as a soft spring breeze.
Do not be deceived however! There’s nothing but booze in this one, and you’ll need to respect that or risk getting hammered before you want to.
So, my advice for living in the bliss of the present moment, is to shake up a couple of these, sit outdoors with a loved one, and sip, sip until the sun drops below the trees. You’ll not regret it!
Gin Blossom
1.5 oz Plymouth Gin
1.5 blanco vermouth
.75 oz apricot eau de vie
2 dashes orange bitters
Combine, shake with ice until freezing cold, and serve straight up.
About those ingredients: Using the ingredients called for in the recipe above makes an exceptional cocktail – gentle, smooth, like springtime in a glass. But, you can make it with regular gin, regular dry vermouth, and apricot liqueur (easier to find, and less intense than eau de vie) and you’ll have a pretty darn good drink! So, if you don’t feel like making a special, 100-dollar run to the liquor store go right ahead and make it with what you’ve got on hand!