My first introduction to gin with that touch of cardamom was at the Tribeca Grand Lounge. Their Gin and Sin is a misnomer of a cocktail because there is no sin when there's gin.
Here is a close approximation to the Tribeca's Gin and Sin:
2 oz. gin
1 oz. lemon juice
1 oz. cardamom simple syrup
1 oz. blood orange juice
The more common navel orange will do just as well, but always remember to use fresh squeezed fruit juice, whether lemon or orange, in your drinks.
Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake 'til a frost forms on the outside. Pour over a cocktail glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange wheel. Very easy and very summery. This is a cocktail you can make by the pitcher for entertaining. Feel free to change the name for the family picnic.
Another, more elaborate and even more flavorful, cardamom cocktail (oh, the alliteration!) is the South Sixth, an Adam Schuman creation, found at Fatty 'Cue, his Brooklyn restaurant. The drink was featured in a recent New York Times slideshow.
South Sixth:
2 oz. gin (or vodka)
2 cucumber slices (1/16 in. thick)
2 basil leaves
1 oz. cardamom simple syrup
1 oz. lemon juice
1 oz. ginger beer
Muddle cucumber, basil and simple syrup in a pint glass.
Add gin and lemon juice. Shake over ice for ten seconds. Double strain into iced highball glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with cucumber wheel. Serve on patio.
This is another cocktail that benefits from sitting around on ice. Make a pitcherful for your guests. There is a lot of herbaceous flavor going on here between the cucumber and the basil. It's as if you wandered into the neighbor's garden. There are gardens in Brooklyn, you know.
Article comments
1 - LazaroCooks!
Fantastic article. Love the cardamom simple syrup. Cardamom is a fantastically versitile kitchen ingredient.
I can't help but wonder if we may have a couple of future ceviches here.
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