Why It Works
- Using a London Dry gin balances the sweetness of the rhubarb bitters (which contain sugar) and the Aperol.
"People tend to be very specific about what they will and won't drink, but often people who never drink gin enjoy this," says Alex Mirkin of Pok Pok Ny's Rhubarb Blush. "The gin here is something that you don't notice, but you would miss if it wasn't there."
Mirkin uses a London dry gin; it balances out the sweetness of rhubarb bitters and Aperol. "Campari would be too headstrong here. The Aperol and lime play well into this bright sweetness." A muted, orangey pink, the Rhubarb Blush is like a lovely liquid SweeTart.
Mirkin notes that Fee Brothers rhubarb bitters, which contain sugar, are more of a "flavoring," than a straight bitter. Though he often favors the rhubarb bitters from Brooklyn Hemispherical, he prefers Fee Brothers here, in tandem with the Campari and lime.
He takes a few extra seconds to make his orange twist into a springy curlicue. "This doesn't need orange zest, but I like the giant curl of orange because when it's just cut, it gives the drink a great citrus aroma."
September 2012
Recipe Details
Pok Pok's Rhubarb Blush Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
1 ounce London dry gin
1 ounce fresh lime juice from about 2 limes
1 ounce Aperol
1 dash Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters
Garnish: orange twist
Directions
In a cocktail shaker, combine gin, lime juice, Aperol and bitters. Fill shaker with ice and shake until fully chilled, about 15 seconds.
Pour drink, ice included, into glass and garnish with a twist of orange peel.
Special Equipment
Shaker, channel knife, 12-ounce rocks glass
Notes
Pok Pok's Alex Mirkin used Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters, but you may want to make your own at home.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
143 | Calories |
0g | Fat |
13g | Carbs |
0g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 1 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 143 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 0g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 1mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 13g | 5% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 1% |
Total Sugars 10g | |
Protein 0g | |
Vitamin C 11mg | 56% |
Calcium 7mg | 1% |
Iron 0mg | 0% |
Potassium 38mg | 1% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |