| SOME LIKE IT HOT |
A Wasabi Collins borrows a lick of bright green Japanese horseradish paste for colour and fiery flavour to balance the drink’s sweet and sour lime and gin notes. Fans of Japanese cuisine might want to add a savoury rim of togarashi to their glass, a seasoning that blends fish and seaweed flakes, sesame seeds and different levels of spice. Give a classic Cosmopolitan a dusting of black pepper that will accent its earthy cranberry and sunny citrus flavours. Whatever you mix up this winter, make sure it has the spice of life.
WASABI COLLINS 1-in (2.5 cm) piece skin-on English cucumber, cut into quarters 3 fresh mint leaves 1½ oz (45 ml) Roku Gin ¾ oz (22 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice ½ oz (15 ml) simple syrup * ¼ tsp wasabi 1 lemon or lime wedge
BLACK PEPPER COSMOPOLITAN 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus more for garnish ¼ fresh lemon, skin-on, cut into chunks 1½ oz (45 ml) Absolut Citron Vodka 1 oz (30 ml) cranberry juice ½ oz (15 ml) Triple Sec Orange Liqueur freshly ground black pepper and a sprig of rosemary, for garnish In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, add lemon chunks and clap the rosemary sprigs between your hands before dropping into the shaker. Muddle together until aromatic. Add ice, vodka, juice and orange liqueur and shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain through a fine cocktail sieve into a chilled Martini or coupe glass. Sprinkle 2 to 3 grinds of fresh black pepper over the drink. Garnish with fresh rosemary.
Togarashi seasoning or nori chip, for garnish (optional) soda water, to top
In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, muddle cucumber and mint until aromatic and soft. Add gin, lime, syrup and wasabi, then fill shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until wasabi is completely integrated and drink is thoroughly chilled, about 30 seconds. If using Togarashi seasoning, rim a highball glass by running citrus wedge around all or part of glass rim, then dip into a saucer of seasoning. Strain drink through a fine cocktail sieve into highball glass. Add a few cubes of ice and top with soda water. Garnish with a nori chip, if desired.
* 1:1 ratio of sugar dissolved in boiling water. Allow to cool before using
ABSOLUT CITRON VODKA Sweden $26.49 257238 With authentic citrus flavour and no added sugar, Absolut Citron is the ideal base for a Cosmopolitan. (The classic recipe calls for lemon vodka!)
COINTREAU LIQUEUR France $40.99 6502 Known as a “triple sec” liqueur, the name refers to the three types of orange zest (dried bitter and sweet plus fresh peel) that deliver zesty orange flavour.
SUNTORY ROKU GIN Japan $49.99 211842 It has gin’s signature whiff of evergreen juniper, but this Japanese bottling also features green tea, cherry blossom and sansho pepper.
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