Slamming Thimbles

Any Baijiu fans out there? 🇨🇳 This Chinese spirit is really funky stuff. Even though it’s the best-selling liquor in the world, it’s not very well known in other parts of the globe. I wasn’t sure about it at first but I’ve come to really enjoy the rice-based Baijiu from Vinn Distillery; the only Baijiu distillery based in the US that I’m aware of. The spirit is traditionally served on its own but I thought I’d try throwing it into a fun cocktail.

And hey, if you want these fancy dipper copper rocks mugs, you can snag a set here.

Baijiu cocktails, best baijiu cocktails — Ingredients:

1½ oz rice-based Baijiu
¾ oz ginger liqueur
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz hibiscus-infused rich simple syrup (recipe below)
3 dashes Lemongrass-Cardamom bitters
Topo Chico

instructions:

Combine ingredients (except for the Topo) & shake with ice. Strain over cracked ice in a fancy glass, top with Topo Chico & garnish with candied ginger.

About the hibiscus-infused rich simple syrup:

I prefer using rich simple syrup (2 parts sugar to 1 part water) in most of my cocktails. It’s not so much a matter of sweetness level as it is texture. 1:1 simple syrup is just a bit too watery– being that it actually contains more water. A 2:1 syrup is thicker, provides a smoother mouthfeel as well as the sweetness needed to balance the drink.

Here’s how I made mine:

Ingredients:

200 g organic cane sugar
100 g water
1 tablespoon dried hibiscus leaves

Instructions:

Combine sugar & water in a pan over medium heat. Allow the syrup to simmer, stirring until all the sugar is completely dissolved.
Remove from heat & immediately add the hibiscus leaves. Let steep until syrup is cool, then strain out the leaves.
Add a teaspoon of vodka to the syrup to help preserve it. Place the syrup in a resealable container & store in the fridge for about a month.

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CocktailsJordan HughesDecember 5, 2018HPP Originals, Baijiu, refreshingComment