Ginger Smash, Fall Season
This fall version of the Ginger Smash has been with us for years, but it truly came together with the addition of allspice dram, a highly bitter and aromatized liqueur. It contrasts two of our favorite ingredients—pears and ginger. Gin mixes very well with pears because it helps open up the subtle aromas that these pome fruits are prized for. Green Bartlett pears are our choice in this cocktail because of their tartness and solid nature. Feel free to try whatever pear you can find in its peak of season.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 1 drink
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Muddle the ginger, pear, and sugar in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add the gin, apple liqueur, juice, and allspice dram and add enough large cold ice cubes to fill a rocks glass. Cover and shake hard but briefly. Pour unstrained into a rocks glass and serve.
ginger smash
Step 2
When we were composing the menu for employees Only back in fall of 2004, we were building the restaurant mostly by ourselves and couldn’t really afford any time away from the construction site. So we had just one afternoon to test our recipes before opening. although we had discussed ideas beforehand and were clear on the direction of the opening menu, and had even created infusions and ingredients on our own time, we’d not had the chance to create the cocktails we had envisioned. But it all worked seamlessly in one afternoon in our “laboratory” in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Step 3
The one cocktail that came out unexpectedly was the Ginger Smash. The term “smash” refers to an old family of drinks, similar to juleps, in which mint would be muddled into spirits of any kind. Ginger has always been a favorite “hot” ingredient of ours, but when we combined fresh cranberries and gingerroot, muddled with sugar, the result was unlike anything we had tasted or made before. Short, snappy, tart, fresh cranberries; the heat from the ginger and gin; sweet apple cordial from Germany; and a little lemon juice produced the most complex ginger cocktail we had ever witnessed. After our December opening, it ranked as our number two selling cocktail. In February, with fresh cranberries out of season, we tried frozen, but they had no snap. This forced us to create a Ginger Smash for each season, using the spirit and fruit accompaniment dictated by the current harvest. all showcase ginger and are smashed or muddled.
tasting notes
Step 4
Dominant Flavors: pears and ginger
Step 5
Body: full-textured, with soft fruits
Step 6
Dryness: medium
Step 7
Complexity: medium
Step 8
Accentuating or Contrasting Flavors: juniper, allspice, and crisp apples round out the pears
Step 9
Finish: short, crisp, warm ginger
Step 10
Glass: rocks
