Sharkbait’s Cocktail of the Week: Vieux From The Top

Happy Friday once again. Hopefully we’re all enjoying the lesser footy matches this morning! If you’re looking for a tasty beverage to enjoy during Croatia vs. Czech Republic or (more importantly/drunkenly) England vs. Scotland, may I present this week’s cocktail: The Vieux Mot from the Please Don’t Tell cocktail book by Jim Meehan.

This one I’ve had bookmarked for a while, but never got around to making. With the heat expected to rise again this weekend, I went looking for something that appeared to be refreshing and easily drinkable in mass quantities (for better or for worse). This gin and elderflower concoction certainly looks like it will do the trick.

Vieux Mot

1.5 oz. Plymouth gin

.75 Lemon juice

.5 oz. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur

.5 oz. Simple syrup

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled coupe. No garnish

There is an ever so faint gin aroma on the nose. I can also detect some elderflower notes as well. Which, when mixed with the juniper tones of the gin, makes for a pleasant smelling drink. I also used London dry vs. Plymouth gin, so if you choose the latter, you may get less juniper, and more elderflower. However your mileage may vary.

On to the sip. It is cool and very refreshing. I get a lot of lemon and elderflower up front surprisingly. I figured that the gin would be the star of the show, but that turns out not to be the case. You can definitely tell it is there however. By the middle of the sip, the gin notes really start to come through the sweet and sour front put up by the elderflower and lemon. Despite the gin becoming more prevalent, it never really takes over the entire palate. Everything stays nicely balanced for the most part. Upon further tastes, I think there might be a little too much simple syrup in here for my liking. With the elderflower liqueur having some natural sweetness to it, adding more in the simple syrup just barely crosses the line into over sweet territory for me, personally. Though to be fair, I eyeballed the half ounce measure, so that could be (probably is) on me for that.

I also might add a twist to this as well. I think the yellow lemon peel would provide a nice contrast to the cloud like color of the cocktail, as well as provide a little more sour bite to again counter act the sweet base.

Despite the slightly sweet flavor, I recommend this one. It is refreshing and would stand up well to the late afternoon summer heat.

(Banner image found here)