There are two types of people in this world: People who like gin, and people who are wrong.
Look, it's not like you're a bad person if you don't like this wonderful spirit. You probably just haven't experienced it the right way. The booze used in our latest cocktail of the week is what kickstarted my mini obsession with gin.
I don't exactly know how I ended up trying Bombay Sapphire to begin with, but I did — and haven't looked back since. It's still my favorite gin. At the time of discovery, I was strictly drinking gin and tonics, and I'd mainly order Sapphire on special occasions. There's something special about it that just puts me in a good mood; it's like my pizza of the spirit world.
For non-ginners who believe they can't be converted, look no further than my family's Christmas party, where I was put in charge of drinks. My mom, who isn't a fan of gin because it tastes like "pine tree," was tricked (full disclosure: You can't trick Mom. She knew I had an agenda) into tasting Running Out of Thyme. Either way, she liked it. Fast forward to a couple weeks ago — Mom came over for a visit, and I offered her a beverage. I wasn't able to trick her, once again, but I made her a riff on Gin and Gose, and… wait for it… she liked it! Although I don't think I'll catch her buying a bottle for her home bar, she won't describe gin as a pine tree anymore.
Now, maybe it's the weather, but it feels like spring to me. I've been craving light, floral drinks, so why not put a little spin on the iconic Bee's Knees? This recipe incorporates orange blossom honey, which I absolutely love, and orange juice instead of lemon. Bombay Sapphire also makes our version of the Prohibition-era drink a great intro to gin for folks who typically go for the stuff.
So, Mom, this one's for you.
Makes 1
Orange Blossom Honey Syrup:
1 ounce warm water
1 ounce orange blossom honey
Add water to a coffee cup and microwave for 20 seconds. Remove from microwave. Pour in honey and stir simultaneously. Use less than half for 1 cocktail, and more as needed.
Cocktail:
2 ounces Bombay Sapphire Gin
3/4 ounce Orange Blossom Honey Syrup
3/4 ounce fresh squeezed orange juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters (optional)
Fill a coupe glass with ice and water, then set aside to chill. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and add all ingredients. Shake until well-chilled. Discard ice water in the coupe glass. Strain in cocktail and garnish with an orange peel.
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This article appears in Feb 23 – Mar 2, 2017.