Sharkbait’s Cocktail of the Week: Pack it Up, Pack it In

Man, this short week is both long and short at the same time, especially when you’re busy. The Sharkbait clan went out of town last week because of the long weekend, and this weekend, we’re going on a longer vacation to the Caribbean (I swear this isn’t a flex). Between the laundry and cleaning the house*, I’ve been busy as hell this week. So much so that I’m completing this entirely at the last minute, and is kind of a rush job. So apologies up front for that.

What do I have in store this week? Something very simple and humble: A Cape Codder. But isn’t that just vodka and cranberry juice? Yes. But, I figured I could spice it up a bit (quite literally mind you) and see if I can workshop something a bit better. This is what I came up with:

2 oz. Hendricks gin

6 oz. or 1/2 can Goslings ginger beer

6 oz. ish Cranberry juice

1 lime wedge

Add ice to a highball glass or pint glass. Add gin, ginger beer, cranberry juice and stir to integrate. Squeeze the lime into the glass and drop in the glass. 

Not much aroma on this one. I get a little bit of the ginger and lime, but overall fairly neutral. Going back in again, I can pick up some of the cranberry, but not too much. The color is lighter than a normal Cape Codder would be, but that makes sense with the addition of the opaque ginger beer.

The sip is very nice. The flavors are all very well balanced, and that makes for a smooth, very drinkable cocktail. The cranberry flavor is the most prevalent up front. But it isn’t very sour or bitter. The ginger beer really suppresses the tartness, and lets the cranberry flavor shine through, with a little bit of effervescence from the carbonation. I really enjoy that a lot.

The gin surprisingly doesn’t come through as much as I would have hoped. Even the flavored Hendricks gets lost. Then again, knowing this is a summer cooler, a stronger gin flavor might be detrimental to the drinkability of this modified Cape Codder.

I really liked this little twist on a classic. The ginger, cranberry and lime flavors all play well together, and the gin substitute works, even though it does get lost. I’m not a huge Cape Codder drinker, but I think I might work some of these into the rotation this summer.

Next week I’ll be taking a break. Believe it or not, this will only be the third Friday without a post from in since 2019. I’ve arranged for a special guest mixologist next week so while I’m sipping (and reviewing) tropical drinks on the beach next week, you’ll still have a drink to read about. Enjoy the weekend and catch you on the 17th!

*Seriously, is there anything worse than coming back from vacation to a messy house?

(Banner image courtesy Matthew Tetrault Photography)