Sauce (15/15): A Celebratory Cocktail
At networking events or over drinks with new friends, the conversation often leads to hobbies or free time pursuits that fill us with joy. I always mention movies, music, reading, and writing. If these single serving friends morph into something more serious, I will then open the door to my other great passion. I will mention my love for a great cocktail. I will let them know about my massive liquor collection. I will share stories about my Sunday tradition. If they join us for a cinema and supper club gathering or our annual Oscars watch party, I will introduce them to my skills. If they follow me on social media, they will discover how deeply I love cocktails.
At some point, the curious grow brave and ask me where this hobby of mine began. This is my favorite part of the journey. I am honored to tell them about my friend, Tim, who passed his love of cocktails onto me. I share a story with them about the green bin of liquor he left on my Alki Beach doorstep before leaving for California. I tell them about him and his husband to LA. I tell them about how Tim died, but, more importantly, how Tim lived. I tell them about great cocktail bars and Tiki adventures shared with my dear friend. I tell them this is a way I can continue to honor his memory. My love of a good mixed drink is more than an affair with the craft of concocting the perfect cocktail. It is a way to ensure I never forget my friend.
Living in Los Angeles, I began writing about my experience with cocktails. I invited the world into my kitchen. I invited the world in, asked them to pull up a seat, and stay for a while. Since then, I have shared dozens of posts, launched a few unique series, and fallen deeply in love with the art of mixology. I love telling people I am a home cocktail enthusiast.
As I began scheming all the things I wanted to do to celebrate the 15th anniversary of my website, I began sketching out opportunities to celebrate and share this milestone. I knew I wanted to create a cocktail to mark the moment. I also wanted to honor Tim. Before he died, Tim fell deeply in love with Tiki drinks and its history. I wanted to find a unique recipe that he would love. I also wanted something that would give me cause for celebration.
The Chrononaut’s Gin Fizz is more than a cocktail. It is a tribute to 15 years of exploration and discovery at Natetheworld.com. It’s a sophisticated, yet refreshing gin fizz, balancing bright citrus and floral notes with a hint of tropical sweetness and spicy warmth from a custom pineapple-ginger-honey syrup. Here is what you’ll need to make it.
Ingredients:
2 oz. London Dry Gin
.75oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
.75oz. Pineapple-Ginger-Honey
1 Cup Fresh Pineapple Chunks
.5 Cup of Water
.5 Cup of Honey
1 Inch Fresh Ginger (peeled and thinly sliced)
.25oz. Elderflower Liqueur
1 Egg White
Club Soda
Garnish: Pineapple frond, fresh pineapples, and Maraschino cherries
Instructions for Pineapple-Ginger-Honey Syrup
1. Combine pineapple chunks, water, honey, and ginger slices in a small saucepan.
2. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly until the honey is fully dissolved.
3. Reduce the heat to low and let it gently simmer for 10-15 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the pineapple to soften.
4. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the syrup cool completely to room temperature.
5. Once cool, strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bottle or jar, pressing firmly on the solids with the back of a spoon to extract every last drop of liquid. Discard the solids.
6. Store your homemade syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Instructions for “The Chrononaut’s Gin Fizz”
1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, fresh lemon juice, pineapple-ginger-honey syrup, elderflower liqueur, and the egg white.
2. Dry shake without ice. Seal the shaker lightly and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds. This crucial step emulsifies the egg white, creating a delightful, airy foam.
3. Wet shake with ice. Now, add ice to the shaker. Shake again for another 15-20 seconds until the mixture is thoroughly chilled.
4. Double-strain the cocktail (using both the shaker’s built-in strainer and a fine-mesh sieve) into a chilled Collins or tall fizz glass filled with ice. This ensures a silky-smooth texture, especially if you use egg white.
5. Slowly top the drink with club soda to fill the glass and create a beautiful fizz.
6. Garnish with a pineapple frond, pineapple, and cherries.
7. Put in your mouth and enjoy.
Be good to each other,
Nathan
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