The Impatient Chef Cocktail Recipe: Just Peachy

The Impatient Chef bought a new gin last week. It is called Wild Roots Cucumber and Grapefruit Gin. Since Wild Roots London Dry Gin is the Impatient Chef’s favorite martini gin, even beating out Tanqueray, it was natural to try their other gin.

The Cucumber and Grapefruit Gin is decidedly different.

Tasting notes:

• Bitter cucumber, 
• A hint of grapefruit, and 
• Some juniper. 
• It boarders on sour, like a Genever gin, but does not go all of the way there. 

The Impatient Chef loathes Genever gins.

Genever is an older form of gin that largely died out in the US after Phohibition as new distilleries catered to a changed taste in liquor among Americans once freed from the 18th Amendment. Genever remained in production in Europe, and eventually returned to the US with Bols Genever, Aviation Gin, and 12 Bridges by Integrity Spirits (now defunct). It is known for its sourness.

The Impatient Chef still loathes Genever gins.

Wild Roots' Cucumber and Grapefruit Gin’s odd flavor made it a challenge to design a drink around. It clearly could not be the dominant flavor, so a martini was out.

The method:

• Pour 1/2 oz of the gin into a shot glass. 
• Taste it with 3 small sips about a minute apart. 
• Decide whether flavors added should be complimentary, or overpowering. 

I opted for complimentary. The first selection was simple syrup. The Impatient Chef does not go for sweet drinks as a rule. However, simple syrup seemed necessary. The second selection was lemon juice, which would offer a little acid, and tartness. Lastly, a flash of inspiration, and a reason to use another Wild Roots spirit, led me to their Peach Vodka. 

Notes on Vodka: The Impatient Chef avoids it whenever possible.  There is always a more interesting flavor to put into a drink.  Vodka is the alcohol equivalent of Wonder Bread, and Wonder Bread is the equivalent of a flavor lobotomy.  Flavored vodkas are similarly avoided, unless it is New Deal Distillery's Hot Monkey Vodka.  

However, there was a bottle of Peach Vodka lying around after an elaborate dessert recipe steered itself over the guardrails and into the ravine.  So, why not?  

Here’s the recipe:

• 1/2 oz lemon juice 
• 1/2 oz simple syrup 
• 1 oz Wild Roots Cucumber and Grapefruit Gin 
• 2 oz Wild Roots Peach Vodka 

Shake with ice.

This drink works really well. The cucumber compliments the peach in a distinctive and surprisingly delicious way.  Don't think for a moment that the Impatient Chef is going soft on vodka, but this drink is surprising delicious, and quite refreshing.  If you live where you can get these spirits, give it a whirl.  

Enjoy!

The Impatient Chef