14 Aug Rosemary

Rosemary

At a wedding a few years back, a candle was placed too close to our centerpiece, and started to go up in flames. One of the other guests at the table put it out, because I didn’t notice; I just thought the entrees were coming. The centerpiece was made, predominately around the perimeter, of rosemary.

I remember that moment like it was yesterday, which it was not. I read somewhere that scent is the sense most strongly tied to memory. I can’t remember the details though. Huh.

Rosemary has all the benefits of mint with none of the delicacies associated with it. Add instant herbaceous-ness by slapping some rosemary in your hand and shoving it down the side of a collins glass. Make a rosemary simple syrup, use it to make lemonade, then sit on your porch and remember the good old times while society crumbles around you.

The best part about rosemary is, of course, that it’s all over your neighbor’s yard. So when you need some for a cocktail party, or some kind of stew, you can just liberate a few sprigs while you’re taking the dog for the afternoon walk. I like to call it “re-appropriating,” but if their rosemary bush is sprouting into the sidewalk, it’s my responsibility to trim it, right? I’ll send the invoice to the public works department.

Rosemary’s woody, hearty texture also makes it a hearty choice for smoking the glass of a cocktail, then straining the shaken cocktail into a smoked glass. I’ve made many a rosemary-smoked Corpse Reviver No. 2 in my day, and I suggest you do the same.

Necromancer No. 2 (serves one)

Ingredients:

0.75 fl oz gin (preferably London Dry)
0.25 fl oz Cointreau
0.5 fl oz rosemary simple syrup
0.75 fl oz Cocchi Americano
0.75 fl oz lemon juice
+lemon peel, for garnish
+2 inch long sprig of rosemary, for smoking

Equipment:

Cocktail shaker
Jigger/liquid measure
fire (a blowtorch works best for this application)
coupe glass

extra rosemary, for syrup making.
sugar, water, heat source, small saucepan
ceramic plate, or something to place a lit sprig of rosemary

1.) Make your rosemary syrup. In a small saucepan, combine two cups of sugar and two cups of water, then heat until all the sugar is dissolved. Add rosemary, reserving a two inch piece for smoking the glass. Allow to simmer at a low heat for 5-10 minutes, there should be a noticeable color change in the syrup. Set aside and let to cool. This will yield just over two cups of syrup, so you’ll have some leftover for lemonade. Lucky you.

2.) Light it up. Ready your firestarter, your ceramic plate, and your coupe glass. Set the rosemary aflame, until the room starts to smell pretty good, like you’re about to get your entree. Place the still smoking rosemary onto the ceramic plate, then cover with the coupe glass. The flame extinguish itself from lack of oxygen, leaving the glass filled with smoke. It’ll be ready when we need it.

3.) Shake it up. In a cocktail shaker, combine gin, cointreau, rosemary syrup, Cocchi Americano, and lemon juice. Shake hard with ice until very cold, about 20-30 seconds. Flip over your seasoned/smoked glass, then strain the cocktail into the shaker. Garnish with a lemon swathe/twist. Enjoy.