I rediscovered one of my favorite cocktails the other night, and in PK style, I’m not going to talk about it for at least another paragraph. For good reason, though, it got me thinking about how limes are the Swiss Army Knife of the cocktail world: useful across a multitude of cocktails with just a little adjustment.
But before we get to limes (OH! OH! OH! I PK’D AGAIN!), let me talk briefly about syrup. I have fallen in love with having 2:1 simple syrup around for cocktails, because it’s so easy. Two parts sugar, one part water, heat and stir until sugar is dissolved (but don’t boil), and then put it in something and keep it in the fridge. Make it with white sugar, or raw sugar, or even agave or honey, and you can have all sorts of good cocktail sweeteners on hand.
Okay, limes: I love them, you love them (or you don’t and you support Hitler), we all love them. I was reminded just how much I love them the other night when I mixed up a Gimlet for the first time in years. For those unfamiliar, here’s the recipe:
- 2 oz Gin (I recommend Plymouth, Bluecoat, or Tanq no. 10)
- 1 oz Lime juice
- 1/2 to 1 oz 2:1 syrup (to taste)
- Optional: 6-8 mint leaves
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake vigorously and double strain into a chilled glass of your choice.
It’s magical, and really brings out the best parts of the gin. I don’t like it terribly sweet, but that’s up to you. But, hey, what if you’re really into rum? DAQUIRI, MOTHERFUCKER! Tequila? Add a little orange liqueur and it’s a Margarita. Going to Brazil? Cachaca in your FACE with the Caipirinha. Mojitos! And those are just cocktails where lime is the primary juice. I’ll share one of my favorite fancy-pants cocktails, the Hotel Nacional Special.
- 1.5 oz aged rum
- 3/4 oz lime juice
- 3/4 oz pineapple syrup
- 1/2 oz apricot brandy
- 1 drop Angostura bitters
- 1 lime wheel for garnish
Throw all of non-garnish ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake it for me baby, and double strain into a chilled glass (preferably coupe or martini). Stick that lime wheel on the rim.
These recipes are thanks to Jeffrey Morgenthaler, whose website and book (“The Bar Book”) have really upped my cocktail game with just a few simple tips. I’ll search his recipes before I check anywhere else, and I’d recommend him as a start any time you’re wanting to make a particular cocktail.
Now let’s all go get drunk.
FUCK YEAH GIMLETS!!! One of my favorite summer drinks. Hendricks or Sapphire is my go to, but there’s a new distillery out of St. Augustine (FL Motherfuckers!) that distills with cane syrup. It’s mighty tasty.
I got the Death & Co book for Xmas, and a copy of Dale DeGroff’s The Essential Cocktail. Yeah, I wanted to be a bartender in another life, what of it?
Definitely add Morgenthaler to your list, then.
Also, you don’t look like a reformed Frat/Finance Bro when you order one a la Gin & Tonic
I don’t dig gin, but they make a great cane vodka. I bought a couple bottles last time I was over in St Augustine.
Shit. Just realized this is from April.
Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.
We bought a lime tree from Costco a couple years ago and put it in a pot. My only regret is that it’s not bigger, because being able to step out into the yard every time I want a lime is sweet.
For a while there was a house near us with a big lime tree that was under construction so anytime I wanted a lime I could just sneak into their yard and poach one. Poached limes are also great.
Right now the only thing that’s easy to get are lemons. I need to expand my fruit options.
I wish we could grow plentiful citrus in Oregon, but it doesn’t really work all that well. I had a coworker whose dad had an amazing meyer lemon tree–just the best damn fruit I’ve ever seen–and his dad got old and crotchety and decided to cut the whole thing down. I still mourn that tree.
Oh, his dad lived in California, naturally.
How do you poach your limes? I can never seem to get the yolk right.
What’s the puppy having? I’ll have one of those.
/pours 3 oz of pure, 99% grain alcohol into a shaker
/adds ice
/stares at it for 30 seconds
/strains it into a wine glass
/drops in one speck of peppermint extract
Here you go. I call it “The Snow Blind”.
NICE! I’m really hoping this becomes a regular post. I love mixing cocktails and anytime I can get new recipes, I’m trying them out.
FUN FACT 1: The spanish word for lime is the same as lemon.
FUN FACT 2: Hitler put lemon juice into his drinks.
I’ll totally do more cocktail write ups, then. I can share my favorite Amaretto Sour (also by Morgenthaler) and the Reverse Manhattan Sour I made up one time.