Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Bols Genever Gin
1 oz. Blood Orange Juice
.5 oz Grapefruit Juice
.75 oz. Honey Syrup*
Crushed Ice
Garnish: 1/4 oz. of Black Currant Juice*
Directions: Fill a rocks glass with crushed ice and set aside. Combine the ingredients (except for the garnish float) into a cocktail shaker, fill with ice, and shake to a 13 count. Strain over crushed ice, garnish, and enjoy!
Background: Blood oranges and grapefruit from Italy, and currants from the UK give this drink strong European ties. Blood orange isn’t as acidic as regular orange juice; it has richer earth tones, so the grapefruit juice adds a hint of bitterness that adds further depth. To brighten the earth tones, the honey syrup adds a healthy, sweet, and delicate floral character. The garnish topping of the black currant juice will be a fruit-forward flavor bomb that adds an eye-popping jam. At the same time, it’s only just enough to keep from throwing the drink off. The color of this drink is deep ruby red and tastes exactly the way it looks. Built off the classic platform “The Bramble,” handle this libation with care, because it’s easy to have one too many!
Notes: *Honey syrup recipe is equal parts honey and water, mixed till integrated.
*If black currant juice is not available, use a dark antioxidant like pomegranate juice or Verjus. If you want a greater alcoholic twist, go with crème de mûre (blackberry) or crème cassis (black currant) liqueur.
*For garnish: Feel free to add a citrus wheel or a twist to up the look of the drink.
*For non-alcohol version – remove gin or use a non-alcoholic spirit.
