Pulling inspiration from “In the Kitchen With…” Alissa and I have created our very own column – “Behind the Bar.” For a little help with the first ever behind the bar, we visited a Philadelphia favorite – Apothecary. Apothecary is a Mecca for cocktail lovers who find comfort in knowing their drink is made with fresh & organic ingredients and combined to tasty perfection in combinations you never imagined. The ice is even specially made using a Japanese technique to remove impurities and unnecessary air pockets. This ensures your drink won’t taste like a Philadelphia water treatment plant or get watered down while you chat with the super-friendly bartenders. And much like an apothecary was carefully trained to blend healing formulas, these bartenders are the real deal – no summertime college students here.
Preston, the beverage manager at Apothecary, shared a light and refreshing summertime drink that you can easily make at home and is perfect for lazy, hot days sitting on the porch.
Cardamom Rose Cocktail:
Ingredients:
1.5 oz of Hendrick’s gin (this is a rose & cucumber infused gin)
.75 oz of Rose syrup (make at home with rose water and simple syrup or buy locally)
.25 oz of Fresh lemon juice
.75 oz of Fresh grapefruit juice (ruby red preferably)
2 dashes of Peychauds bitters (Peychaud is credited with first creating the cocktail)
1 Cardamom Pod
Methodology:
1) Lightly muddle 1 cardamom pod at the bottom of shaker (not too much muddling or it will overpower the drink)
2) Add the rest of the ingredients
3) Add ice
4) Shake for 20 seconds
5) Strain over fresh ice to remove the cardamom pod
6) Add a splash of seltzer water
7) Garnish with rose petals or fresh lemon wedge (use organic if possible)
