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Epicurious

Red Bush-Infused Vermouth

This tea-infused vermouth was developed by EO bartender Milos Zica for the Quiet Storm cocktail (page 118). Also known as rooibos, South African red bush tea is a robust herbal tea with a rich mahogany color. We recommend the Silence rooibos tea blend from T Salon, which is where the cocktail’s name partially derives from. Like the Vermouth de Provence (opposite), this vermouth is created with the hot infusion method that requires steeping the tea and other ingredients in a small amount of vermouth to make a concentrate. The color of this infused vermouth is a rich pumpkin orange.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 3/4 quart

Ingredients

1 (750 ml) bottle Dolin Blanc vermouth
1 tablespoon T Salon Silence red rooibos tea
Peel of 1 lemon, in strips

Preparation

  1. Pour 1 cup of the vermouth into a small saucepan over low heat. Add the tea and slowly bring to a boil, then remove immediately from the heat. Squeeze the lemon peel over the mixture, then drop it in. Stir gently and allow to cool for 30 minutes. Strain the infusion through cheesecloth into the vermouth bottle with the remaining vermouth. Store at room temperature. Will keep indefinitely.

Cover of Speakeasy by Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric featuring a coupe glass with a brown cocktail and lemon wheel garnish.
Reprinted with permission from Speakeasy: The Employees Only Guide to Classic Cocktails Reimagined by Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric, © 2010 Ten Speed Press. Buy the full book from Amazon or Bookshop.
TagsVermouthAlcoholBeveragesTeaMake AheadCookbooks
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