Inspiration cocktail Nightcap
Pairs well with: BBQ duck, vanilla ice cream, a stary night
Could tonight have gone any better? To start, you got your hair just right and you're wearing your favourite outfit (which you’ve gotten three compliments on just this evening). Dinner was lovely. The food was good, the conversation flowed easily, and all your jokes landed perfectly. You knocked it out of the park. The show you saw was enthralling. You both laughed. Afterward, you walked under the stars and talked about your families, your dreams, and your biggest fears as kids. You two have so much in common. Now you’re standing on your doorstep, gazing into their eyes that could be a pair of stars from the sky.
How does this perfect night not end just yet? You stare at each other, trying to find a solution in the silence, both hoping the other caves and asks first. “Nightcap?”
A nightcap to me is more ceremonial than functional.
I often like to toast the highlights of the day with my partner as we wind down. These moments are somewhat affirmational and I think taking time to reflect, celebrate, or let go of the day can be just a little nicer over a tasty beverage. But the last thing you want to be doing at this point in the day is looking for ingredients or fiddling with tools. That why it’s nice to have a cocktail that can be batched and sit in your fridge. Something that’s equally delicious and easy.
The template for this cocktail is not unlike an Old Fashioned, though I’ve tailored it to be a little softer and easier to sip. The Four O’Clock® Chocolate Spices Chai Herbal Tea adds a well-rounded and integrated flavour profile by acting as the dilution for this cocktail. Olea saccharum translates as “oil sugar”, and is essentially a syrup made by muddling citrus peels in sugar before mixing with water. It’s important to muddle the citrus peels in the sugar as this is what breaks down the cell walls and begins an osmotic reaction that flavours the sugar. You’ll find that making syrup from an oleo saccharum (or just “oleo” for short) creates such a dynamic and deep flavour.
If you don’t have cinnamon bitters on hand, don’t worry, you can use Angostura or any other aromatic bitters. The one thing you must not skimp on for this is the Mezcal. While some could argue that what you put in a mixed drink doesn’t matter, this cocktail has nowhere to hide cheap products. Look for something labeled “Artisanal” and that it lists a single varietal of agave if possible. Trust me, it will pay off.
Once this cocktail is batched keep it in your fridge for easy serving, it should last a week or so. You can pour more or less than 120 ml (approximately 4 oz) depending on your mood, that’s just a recommended serving.