I’m a ‘tini girl. I’ll ask even the burliest, tattoo-sleeved bartender, “Can you make a lemon drop?” Is it the strong vodka and the tart lemon juice? No ma’am. It’s that festive glass and sugared rim. Ohhh that sugared rim. I’ve got a little trick that will make every party guest swoon.
And a touch of rosemary simple syrup adds just a little elegance.
Full disclosure: I created this cocktail recipe just so I’d have something to put in these beautifully sugared martini glasses.
Food La La Recipe:
Rosemary Christmas Cosmos
SERVES: 2 cosmos
INGREDIENTS:
Rosemary-infused simple syrup:
- 3 large sprigs rosemary
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup sugar
Sugared rim:
- Red granulated sugar
- Green granulated sugar
- 1 small wedge of lemon
Cocktail:
- 3 oz vodka
- 1 oz Cointreau
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- 3 oz rosemary-infused simple syrup
- Ice
STEPS:
Rosemary-infused simple syrup:
1. In a small saucepan, heat the water and sugar over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Bring mixture to a boil.
2. Roll the rosemary stems between your palms a few times, or tap with the back side of a large knife (WHY? #1), then add to sugar mixture and turn off the heat.
3. Let the rosemary steep for up to an hour, then remove it.
Sugared rim:
1. Meanwhile, place an 8-section apple slicer on a piece of parchment. With a spoon, carefully fill each compartment with alternating red and green sugar. (If you accidentally get some red in a green compartment, just add a little more green over top of it).
2. Carefully lift up the apple slicer so you have a circle of alternating colors
3. If the rim of your martini glass is wider than the apple slicer, gently push each section of sugar outward to create a bigger circle.
4. Rub a lemon wedge around the rim of each glass.
5. Flip glass over into sugar and press down. Be careful not to twist! If your sugar needs help sticking to outside of glass, just use your finger to push sugar toward outer rim.
6. Repeat with remaining glasses.
Cocktail:
1. Add all cocktail ingredients to shaker and shake vigorously.
2. Carefully pour cocktail into glass, being careful not to disrupt your sugared rim!
PSST! SOME RECIPE NOTES:
- WHY? #1: When you “bruise” the rosemary, you break the cellular walls, allowing the essential oils to escape, imparting more flavor. You will immediately smell the rosemary. (Don’t apply so much pressure that the leaves fall off or the stem breaks.)
- Note: You can make a larger batch of rosemary simple syrup and save it for other cocktails! It will keep in the refrigerator for about a month.
