Hi everyone! It’s been a long while since we last wrote a Friday cocktail post. In our defense, we’ve been really really busy. So to get the ball rolling again, here’s a fun cocktail that I concocted especially for Nole, and she seemed to enjoy it quite a bit. It’s sweet and a bit tart and very very floral, just the way she likes her drinks, and beautifully deeply red, perfect for Valentine’s Day: The Love Letter.
Read below for the full recipe!
The Love Letter
2 oz Hibiscus-Infused Gin
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1 oz Grenadine
To make the infusion: simply add an hibiscus herbal tea bag or two to a bottle of gin or genever, wait a couple of days, then remove the bags and strain out any sediments (if any) with some cheesecloth. Make sure that it’s just hibiscus; if there’s any actual tea leaves in the bag, infuse for just a few hours or else the tannins in the tea will leave the spirits too bitter.  (Note: The 2:1:1 ratio of spirits to sweet to sour is a good go-to ratio for making any Sour.)
Shake all the ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and enjoy. For the adventurous, try adding an egg white before shaking to give the drink a silky texture and nice froth on top.
 
Infusions are also a great way to put your own spin on a bottle of spirits. Alcohol is a fantastic solvent that will pick up lots of flavor from pretty much anything it touches (which is why whiskey gets all that wonderful oaky flavor from aging in wooden barrels and why we are cursed with so many flavored vodkas). They’re easy to make and leave you with something that can make a great gift or make for a personalized cocktail for someone special. Just make sure you’re careful with the timing of ingredients like tea or lemon peels that can leave an infusion too bitter if left in for too long. Enjoy!
Ed Note: You know what might be the sweetest thing ever? A husband that invents cocktail recipes just for his lady wife. And then calls said recipe The Love Letter. Yep, I’m a lucky lady indeed! – Nole
Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper