Herbaceous Libations

Elevating your cocktail with herbs

This August has been muggy as hell, which is pretty normal for DC weather. I've spent a good amount of my life living in humid climates and have developed certain techniques for dealing with it; for instance, what to wear when you know you're gonna sweat like a whore in church about 10 seconds after you walk out the front door. Answer? Work-out clothes, preferably with moisture wicking. Hey, if you're sweating, you're working out in my book. Come winter (and oh, Winter is coming) you can bet I'll be looking to sink into my couch with a warming Manhattan or hot toddy. But right now, it's all about sipping a crisp, fresh cocktail and herbs are a great way to make that happen.

Plays well with others

Gin is a natural candidate for pairing with herbs. It was originally concocted as an herbal medicine back in the Middle Ages, so says Wikipedia. The main herb, or plant gin takes its flavor from is juniper, but there are a whole mess of other herbs, fruits, and plants distilling in the background. This means you could go just about any which way in pairing it with a number of herbs, not to mention grapefruit, cucumber, or even muddled cantaloupe!

But don't over look a darker liquor like rye or bourbon. They can play on the sweeter side, so mixing with some herbs can help bring out more earthy and woodsy undertones from their barreling. Mint Julep, anyone?

Keep It Simple Stupid

I know several of you readers have mentioned how you appreciate our efforts with some of our more intricate cocktails and all, but that you're likely not to bother making them yourselves. But that is not the point of our blog. We want to entice you to step out of your comfort zone and experience why cocktails are not just a coping mechanism or a means to an end, but rather an experience to savor, and something you can do at home too! So here are two recipes, both with a single liquor involved. YOU can do this! Trust me, give them a whirl. And yes, make the simple syrup, it's not that hard.

Take a classic cocktail like the Gin Fizz, a favorite of my sister-in-law, and add some muddled rosemary and thyme. Or play with a Mint Julep, use rye instead, add some lemon and voila, you've got a Rye Smash. Have you got a little herb garden this summer? Put it to good use.

Gin Fizz with herbs; that's brisk, baby!

If not, grab some fresh herbs from the produce section at the grocery store on your next run. You will not be disappointed.

Gin Fizz

2 oz. Hendricks gin
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup (Some say 3/4 oz, but I like mine a little less sweet)
Sparkling lemon water to top off
4-5" rosemary sprig, 2-3 thyme sprigs, leaves removed

Muddle rosemary and thyme with lemon juice and simply syrup.
Add ice and gin and shake. Strain into rocks glass over ice, top off with sparkling lemon water.

*You could also let the rosemary and thyme steep in your simple syrup if you're up for making it from scratch. Called simple for a reason, it's a 1:1 water and sugar ratio. Add a couple sprigs of rosemary and thyme tied together (for easy removal; i use an extra long piece of thyme to do the trick since kitchen twine never seems to be around) and let it simmer on low heat until the sugar dissolves into the water, let cool. Done! Easy. I store mine in mason jars.

Rye Smash

Rye Smash. Invest in a muddler and let out your unchecked aggression.

3/4 oz. simple syrup

8 fresh mint leaves, plus 1 sprig, for garnish 

3 lemon wedges 

2 oz. rye (Copper Fox)

Muddle mint with lemon wedges and simple syrup.
Add rye and ice, stir vigorously for 30 second.
Strain into rocks glass with crushed ice, or cubes if you don't have crushed. Garnish with extra mint sprig, sit back and sip away. Notice your internal temperature drop a bit and how you no longer care about your cummerbund of sweat.


By Julz Vivalo