12 votes

Unique cocktail ingredient workshop thread

An offshoot of /r/cocktails recently had a weekly challenge of making cocktails with specified ingredients. In lieu of that, I thought it might be neat if you had an ingredient (spirit, liqueur, fruit, etc.) that you've wanted to use in a cocktail, we could workshop potential uses. Alternatively, if you've found something that works (maybe unexpectedly), you can share it here.

6 comments

  1. [4]
    JuDGe3690
    Link
    I'll start: I've always loved white grape juice since I was a kid, and have been trying to figure out how to use it in an adult cocktail. Looking online, however, most grape juice cocktails use...

    I'll start: I've always loved white grape juice since I was a kid, and have been trying to figure out how to use it in an adult cocktail. Looking online, however, most grape juice cocktails use concord grape juice (or similar red grape juice), which doesn't work in this case (white grape juice is more delicate).

    That said, after some experimentation, I think I hit upon a highball that works, although I'm open to improvement:

    • 2 oz Cachaça (Brazilian "rum" made from raw sugarcane)
    • 0.75 oz Elderflower Liqueur (I used Fiorente, as I'm too cheap for St. Germaine)
    • 3 oz White Grape Juice
    • Top with Fresca (grapefruit soda), about 3 oz or so

    Have you ever successfully used white grape juice in a cocktail?

    9 votes
    1. [3]
      elegant_tulip
      Link Parent
      This sounds absolutely delicious and I’ll definitely be trying it! I haven’t been too adventurous with drink ingredients but this thread really has me thinking…

      This sounds absolutely delicious and I’ll definitely be trying it! I haven’t been too adventurous with drink ingredients but this thread really has me thinking…

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        JuDGe3690
        Link Parent
        On second taste (sans Fresca), I almost think this is better with little to no elderflower. It kinda takes over (surprising, given its normal subtlety), leaving the grape as reinforcement;...

        On second taste (sans Fresca), I almost think this is better with little to no elderflower. It kinda takes over (surprising, given its normal subtlety), leaving the grape as reinforcement; however, reducing to 0.25 oz lets the white grape shine through. Still searching for perfection...

        2 votes
        1. Ishtar
          Link Parent
          Yeah it’s kinda funny how elderflower liqueur can be so subtle but also so overpowering. I’ve been trying to use up this bottle of St. Germaine for awhile now and trying different cocktails I’ve...

          Yeah it’s kinda funny how elderflower liqueur can be so subtle but also so overpowering. I’ve been trying to use up this bottle of St. Germaine for awhile now and trying different cocktails I’ve read about. It seems that it’s either the primary flavor mixed with subtler ingredients like sparkling wine, vodka, and or a backdrop for more sturdy flavors like gin and lemon/lime juice.

          That being said, maybe a bit of lime juice (which goes well with rum and grape!) could brighten it up somewhat and stand up to the elderflower? I think I’ll try this out myself this weekend, I need a new summer drink to help me kill this bottle so thank you for the inspiration!

          1 vote
  2. [2]
    Nox_bee
    Link
    I'm a big fan of gin and all the lovely floral notes it can bring to a drink, but generally I feel like that aroma is squashed by tonic and lime. If I could get my hands on some bergamot flowers...

    I'm a big fan of gin and all the lovely floral notes it can bring to a drink, but generally I feel like that aroma is squashed by tonic and lime.

    If I could get my hands on some bergamot flowers I'd like to try gin on the rocks with some kind of herbal tea instead of tonic water, but not having actually done it yet this is just me throwing half baked ideas...

    2 votes
    1. JuDGe3690
      Link Parent
      Gin in a London Fog (steamed milk and earl grey tea) is great, almost like a gin hot toddy.

      Gin in a London Fog (steamed milk and earl grey tea) is great, almost like a gin hot toddy.

      2 votes